Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 17, 2023

Are you a fan of games like the newish Connections offered by The New York Times? Well, here's a cinematic version, though I'll spoil the solution by saying that rather unexpectedly all of the following are connected, and it's in the how they're connected that some may find some interest: It's a Wonderful Life, A Place in the Sun, Riding High, Here Comes the Groom, The Heiress, Detective Story, Carrie, Roman Holiday and the film currently under discussion. If you're stumped by trying to group together things like director credits and that "sore thumb" of a sole George Stevens entry is just one of several potential stumbling blocks, an interesting supplement on this disc featuring José Arroyo offers some background on a cascading series of deals that resulted from the financial disaster that was It's a Wonderful Life's initial fate, and which then perhaps oddly ended up sparking the production of all of the above linked films. It's quite an august group of productions in some ways (perhaps excepting the two middling Capra Crosby efforts), and The Desperate Hours in particular can be a riveting viewing experience, at least for those willing to "time travel" experientially back to the Eisenhower Era when there was supposedly no safer domain than a man's post- World War II home.

As Arroyo and other supplements get into, The Desperate Hours has been adapted more than once (the trailer included on this disc kind of charmingly references an original serial in the now defunct Collier's magazine, and a later best selling novel version), and there are of course varying opinions on which version is "best". Desperate Hours may understandably have a more contemporary and viscerally violent impact, but for my money this mid-fifties effort has more subtext, better writing and direction and especially the inimitably weathered presence of Humphrey Bogart as the leader of a bunch of home invaders.

While some of the supplements allude to things like the film's subtext suggesting the burgeoning anti-Communist hysteria sweeping the United States, I think a similar and more wide ranging argument could be made about how devastating parts of The Desperate Hours are simply due to its actual text of letting the "typical American family" feel like they're not as safe as they simply assumed. That may seem like a positively quaint sentiment to modern day sensibilities, but, again, I'd argue that putting yourself in that mid-fifties mindset may help to engender an emotional appreciation for the family at peril in the film. Yes, this is restrained, much more so than the remake, but that perhaps only increases the psychological tension, since you're never quite sure if and/or when either Griffin (Humphrey Bogart) or stalwart husband and father Daniel Hilliard (Frederic March) is going to snap.

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Desperate Hours is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

The Desperate Hours is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 in English mono audio, and has been exclusively restored by Arrow Films.

The original 35mm VistaVision camera negative was scanned in 6K resolution at Fotokem, Burbank. The film was restored and graded at R3Store Studios, London.

The English mono soundtrack was sourced from the optical sound negatives by Paramount and was remasterd by Bad Princess Productions, London.

Consultation on the film's original release aspect ratio was undertaken with Robert Furmanek, American Widescreen Museum.

Well, it had to happen sometime, and the only surprise may be that the increase is mathematical as opposed to geometric, since I kind of assumed the next "new, improved" resolution marker would either be 8K or 16K, considering how things have progressed thus far, but one way or the other that 6K scan should instantly indicate that the "capture" of detail from the VistaVision negative is considerably more precise looking than on the older Imprint Blu-ray. This is a really sumptuous looking transfer from both detail and contrast standpoints, and depth of field is superb, even if admittedly mostly confined to the interiors of the Hilliard home (this film has some rather interestingly skewed mises en scène that struck me as somewhat atypical for Wyler). Fine detail on everything from the crags of Bogart's face (and his stubble) to fabrics on costumes is beautifully precise looking. Grain is very tightly resolved, even with the film's almost nonstop onslaught of optical dissolves between scenes. For just one great example of the precision of this transfer despite obstacles like dissolves, keep your eye peeled on the edge of the side rearview mirror that is featured as the convicts drive around the peaceful suburban neighborhood.

The Desperate Hours Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Desperate Hours features an LPCM Mono track that is really full bodied and resonant, but which can't quite escape the somewhat boxy sound of the era. That aspect is probably most noticeable in some of the blaring brass cues, but all of the dialogue and even the bulk of the non strident underscore sound fluid and problem free. Optional English subtitles are available.

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

• Commentary by Daniel Kremer


• Trouble in Suburbia (HD; 38:51) is a really interesting appreciation by José Arroyo, Associate Professor in Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick which helps to contextualize not just the story but the interesting concatenation of events which resulted in the above linked films.


• The Lonely Man (HD; 14:54) is a visual essay by Eloise Ross, co-curator of the Melbourne Cinémathèque, which focuses on the film's legendary star villain.


• Scaled Down and Ratcheted Up (HD; 11:47) is a nice audio interview with Catherine Wyler, William Wyler's daughter, who remembers how "scary" the set was. This plays to scenes from the film.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:19)


• Lobby Cards Gallery (HD)

Arrow includes another very nicely appointed insert booklet, this one with the typical cast and crew and technical information, along with two very interesting essays by Philip Kemp and Neil Sinyard. Additionally, packaging features a reversible sleeve and a slipcover.

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

The Desperate Hours may not offer the kind of on screen violence that its 1990 counterpart did, but I'd argue that's part of its power, especially since there are some rather shocking (at least for 1955) outbursts of physical interaction. Bogart offers a really nicely weathered performance, and March and Martha Scott are compelling as the fraught husband and wife and parents. The supporting cast is stuffed full of fantastic character actors. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very enjoyable. Recommended.