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Ransom

1956 1h 49m Drama List
Reviews 63% Audience Score 50+ Ratings
After the kidnapping of his son, an executive, Dave Stannard (Glenn Ford), prepares to cave in to the demand of a $500,000 ransom. When the police chief (Robert Keith) and a reporter (Leslie Nielsen) tell him that, paying or not, he is unlikely to see his son again, Stannard snaps. Instead of paying the ransom, he decides to use the money as a bounty to capture the kidnappers. While everyone, including his wife (Donna Reed), berates him for his decision, Stannard stands by his ploy. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

View All (2) Critics Reviews
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...watchable yet entirely erratic... Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 27, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Always riveting. Rated: B+ Aug 2, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The characters played by Glenn Ford and Donna Reed have a great son. He gets into mischief like destroying furniture, but he's so loveably cute that the rich parents just can't get enough of his delightful delinquency. I point this out because there are too many moments like this; scenes that are over-the-top even for a 1950s melodrama. Blame the director Alex Segal who also fails to give the film any cinematic panache. Yet, the film still holds your attention. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent acting - I Love this film! A strong cast all around ` Leslie Neilson as reporter - Juano Hernandez as butler - Donna Reed in stunning dramatic performance and of course Glenn Ford as anguished father. Anyone who is a parent can find these emotions believable and raw. I wish criterion would produce and elevate to where I believe it should be. I think the direction and filming which relies mostly on the characters in the scene at the time is a fabulous filmaking education. This IS a character film with a story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member good suspenser better than the 1986 remake Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member "ransom!" would be a much better movie if it's ending wasn't complete bullshit. but the performances and mostly everything leading up to the end is good. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Solid drama with a good opportunity for Glenn to show his stuff in a controlled performance. Donna is strong in the beginning but then almost disappears from the film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member much better in its own way than the 1996 remake skip that see this Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Ransom

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Ransom

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Movie Info

Synopsis After the kidnapping of his son, an executive, Dave Stannard (Glenn Ford), prepares to cave in to the demand of a $500,000 ransom. When the police chief (Robert Keith) and a reporter (Leslie Nielsen) tell him that, paying or not, he is unlikely to see his son again, Stannard snaps. Instead of paying the ransom, he decides to use the money as a bounty to capture the kidnappers. While everyone, including his wife (Donna Reed), berates him for his decision, Stannard stands by his ploy.
Director
Alex Segal
Producer
Nicholas Nayfack
Screenwriter
Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 29, 2014
Runtime
1h 49m