The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 23, 2022

William Wyler's "The Desperate Hours" (1955) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with featuring critic critic Barry Forshaw; exclusive new audio commentary by critic Kevin Lyons; and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

If you are wondering whether there is a connection between William Wyler’s The Desperate Hours and Michael Cimino’s Desperate Hours the answer is yes, there is. The latter is considered a remake of the former. However, this description is not entirely accurate. In fact, it is misleading. Both films use the original material from Joseph Hayes’ 1954 novel The Desperate Hours, which was remade into a Broadway play in 1955. Hayes wrote the screenplay for Wyler’s film in 1955 and contributed to the screenplay for Cimino’s film in 1990. However, there are substantial discrepancies in the characterizations seen in these films, and Cimino’s film does not even remotely attempt to appear as a contemporary replica of Wyler’s film.

In Wyler’s film, three prison escapees -- Glenn Griffin (Humphrey Bogart), his brother Hal (Dewey Martin), and Sam Kobish (Robert Middleton) -- enter a quiet suburb somewhere on the north side of Indianapolis and break into a middle-class home. They take hostage Daniel Hilliard (Fredric March), his wife Ellie (Martha Scott), their daughter Cindy (Mary Murphy), and their son Ralphy (Richard Eyer). They plan to stay there only until midnight when Glenn’s girlfriend will come from out of town with enough cash for them to get to their next destination. But when Glenn’s girlfriend is sidetracked, the escapees are forced to change their plan and stay with the hostages for a few days -- or more, if necessary. Initially, everyone tries to behave so that the Hilliard residence looks as it always does, meaning very ordinary, but then tensions slowly rise and the new plan proves just as useless as the original ‘perfect’ plan.

Excluding a few basic elements of the takeover of the suburban home, Wyler and Cimino’s films do not have much in common. It is not because they produce different characterizations while working with the same material either. The nature of their drama and perhaps more importantly the energy that defines it and ultimately shapes the personalities of these films are completely different.

The grand clash between Bogart and March, which on paper seems like the biggest reason to see Wyler’s film, is unfortunately rather underwhelming. Initially, Bogart looks like a tough guy able to impose his will on everyone and creates the impression that it is only a matter of time before he would be in the middle of some spectacular fireworks that would be brilliantly managed by Wyler to produce an unforgettable film noir. Oddly, almost immediately after his ‘perfect’ plan falls apart, Bogart becomes soft and notably deflates the film while engaging in numerous very tedious arguments with his partners and the hostages. Virtually all arguments look and sound very scripted and controlled too, so instead of spectacular fireworks, the film produces an entirely predictable string of cliched situations.

While imperfect, Cimino’s film is unquestionably better and far more entertaining. In it, there is a legit grand clash whose two stars, Mickey Rourke and Anthony Hopkins, treat each other as if they are in the middle of a boxing ring. Indeed, the two exchange some serious punches whose ferocity charges the film with rather remarkable energy and, in the process, produces quite a few surprises. The supporting cast is better, too.

VistaVision makes Wyler’s film look very ambitious, which it probably was. The camera work is often strikingly precise and at least initially does a lot to strengthen the expectation for incoming spectacular fireworks. But it does not take long too long to realize that the film lacks quality where it matters the most, which is why it is very easy to forget.

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Desperate Hours arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures. Because The Desperate Hours was shot in VistaVision, delineation, clarity, and depth appear quite solid. However, the overall quality of the presentation is not as convincing as that of The Scarlet Hour, which is another film noir shot in VistaVision. Trained eyes will spot extremely light sharpening and less than optimal grain exposure, which is enough to make a small number of visuals appear a tad harsh. They are never distracting but I have to mention them. The grayscale is very good. Blacks, grays, and whites are very nicely balanced. However, even the grayscale will be more convincing if the film is properly restored. Image stability is good. I did notice a few nicks and blemishes, but there are no distracting large cuts, warped or torn frames to report. All in all, this release offers a pretty decent presentation of The Desperate Hours, but there is room for various meaningful improvements. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The dialog is clear, sharp, and always exceptionally easy to follow. Even if the volume of your system is set pretty low, you will hear absolutely everything that is said throughout the film. Dynamic intensity is very good, but you need to keep in mind that the film was directed in the 1950s, which means that its soundtrack has native limitations. Can the audio sound better? Excluding some cosmetic work that could enhance it, I would have to say no.

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for The Desperate Hours. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Kevin Lyons.

• Barry Forshaw on "The Desperate Hours" - in this exclusive new program, critic Barry Forshaw discusses the conception and unique qualities of The Desperate Hours as well as era in which the film emerged from. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If I am forced to choose between William Wyler's The Desperate Hours and Michael Cimino's Desperate Hours, I would immediately go with the latter because it is a superior film. Yes, Cimino's film is imperfect and for years it has been speculated that his preferred version of it has not been seen, but the intense fireworks that emerge between Mickey Rourke and Anthony Hopkins make it quite unpredictable. Wyler's film is devoid of any exciting fireworks and is entirely predictable. To be clear, I do not think that it is a bad film, but considering the number of very talented people that worked on it, in my opinion, it is unquestionably underwhelming. This release is included in Via Vision Entertainment's Essential Film Noir - Collection 3, a four-disc box set.