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Fourteen Hours

Play trailer Poster for Fourteen Hours 1951 1h 32m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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63% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Preparing to jump from the ledge of a skyscraper, Robert Cosick (Richard Basehart), a depressed young man, is spotted by police officer Charlie Dunnigan (Paul Douglas), who attempts to talk him down. Bringing in his dysfunctional parents (Agnes Moorehead, Robert Keith) and girlfriend Virginia (Barbara Bel Geddes) only seems to exacerbate the situation. Meanwhile, the number of onlookers increases as the spectacle unfolds, profoundly affecting some in the crowd.

Critics Reviews

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Bosley Crowther New York Times 08/26/2006
4/5
A remarkably compact motion picture... those who have no memory of that or any similar case will find gripping suspense, absorbing drama and stinging social comment in this film. Go to Full Review Vernon Young Arizona Quarterly 01/22/2024
Fourteen Hours offered the best opportunities for clean movie action and editing, but Henry Hathaway, the director, and Joe McDonald, cinematographer, were both inhibited by Paxton’s script which failed to establish a coherent point of view. Go to Full Review André Bazin L'Obs (France) 12/08/2021
It all unfolds with too calculated an ease to qualify as a valid treatment of the subject. Go to Full Review Manny Farber The Nation 11/24/2020
This spellbinder script by John Paxton is crammed with tricks and messages the size of dinosaur bones. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 09/26/2006
3/4
Simple yet strangely compelling... Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 09/06/2006
B-
It follows along the lines of Ace in the Hole by building most of the tension from the reaction shots of the bystanders. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Matt J Aug 14 The cinematography is excellent. This film has several iconic shots of New York City’s streets and high rises. I really love how the cop who has been talking with the troubled man finds it hard to leave the building — he almost wants to stick around to make sure the dude doesn’t go back up and step out on the ledge. The actor who played the cop did an excellent job of conveying this with subtlety. Some of the script might sound odd or cheesy by today’s standards, but overall, this is a very well-made film. See more Stephen Jules R Jun 24 classic .. everything people love about old black and whites and a rare movie with a giant cast of known to be known and cameos that worked in it's time and is cool looking back...a story told many times since but probably a first time it was filmed especially so well...eyebrows up lol See more Steve D 01/22/2024 Effective but unremarkable thriller. See more nick s 11/28/2023 The script is a bit repetitive in places and the theme can get monotonous, but great work by cast and cinematographer make it compelling viewing. See more 11/05/2022 Great film, great performances, all star and soon to be big stars, Definitely just to the cast, including Grace Kelly, plus personality I would watch any film with the star of this film, and the great Agnes Moorhead See more 02/01/2019 The best thrilling movie ever made! See more Read all reviews
Fourteen Hours

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Henry Hathaway

Director

Paul Douglas

Ofcr. Charlie Dunnigan

Richard Basehart

Robert Cosick

Barbara Bel Geddes

Virginia Foster

Debra Paget

Ruth

Agnes Moorehead

Christine Hill Cosick

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Fourteen Hours

Fourteen Hours (1951) Fourteen Hours (1951) Fourteen Hours (1951) Fourteen Hours (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Preparing to jump from the ledge of a skyscraper, Robert Cosick (Richard Basehart), a depressed young man, is spotted by police officer Charlie Dunnigan (Paul Douglas), who attempts to talk him down. Bringing in his dysfunctional parents (Agnes Moorehead, Robert Keith) and girlfriend Virginia (Barbara Bel Geddes) only seems to exacerbate the situation. Meanwhile, the number of onlookers increases as the spectacle unfolds, profoundly affecting some in the crowd.
Director
Henry Hathaway
Producer
Sol C. Siegel
Screenwriter
John Paxton, Joel Sayre
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 11, 2018
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)