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      The Glass Wall

      1953 1h 22m Drama List
      Reviews 62% Audience Score 100+ Ratings Peter (Vittorio Gassman) is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York City to search for a World War II veteran whom he helped during the war. If he can find this veteran (Jerry Paris), he believes it can help prove his case that he deserves American citizenship. But if he can't find him within 24 hours, he'll be branded a fugitive and forever barred from reentry into America. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Spectacular photography in and atop New York's United Nations building is the most rewarding feature of this hectic pursuit drama. Nov 14, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Gritty immigration picture. Rated: B Jan 26, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Excellent noir, great on location filming in NYC, especially subway shots, it has Gloria Graham, nuff said, very unrated, definitely entertaining and enjoyable with ??? Not going to spoil the ending Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/07/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie immediately pulls you in with the main character, as the underdog, whom you continually root for as he flees from the police. Along the way he makes some bad choices which end up complicating his quest to remain free. Then when things start to look more favorable for him, the screen writer chose to drag out the chase scene by having police officers running after him, the same officers he feared from the start. The only 2 people our main character trusts were running behind the officers out of his sight, and not once did they ever call out to him to relieve him of his fears. They chase him all the way to the top of a skyscraper where he perches on the ledge preparing to jump. This was the worst ending to any movie I've ever watched in 66 years. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review dave j The set up takes place after WWII with Peter Kaban (Vittorio Gassman) as a Hungarian wanting to immigrant to America. And as a lack of identification and protocol, he was then told he was not permitted nor granted citizenship that he would have to be sent back. So as a result, and out of desperation, he escapes from the ship he was boarded on to NYC just so he can find his person he had personally saved who is supposed to be a professional clarinet player. Gloria Grahame also stars as the down on her luck girl, Maggie who he seeks help from. Spoil "The Glass Wall" as the movie is referring to is the slang for the UN building located in New York. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved it. Gassman - looking very much like a young Monty Clift - is superb and if you like nothing else, the authentic location shooting of it in 1953 NYC will keep any true noir fan VERY happy! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review deke p Never heard of this movie before. Kinda interesting. Chases around early 1950s NYC. About illegal immigrant from Hungary. I didn't know who GLORIA GRAHAME was (older than my father). And I barely knew VITTORIO GASSMAN. Saw this movie on late nite TV, 12.1.19. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member This is an overlooked gem, with a noir feel. Great shots of Times Square in the mid 1950's. New York as an all-night city, filled with characters including a classic "masher", a cheap con artist, and two sketchy women with hearts of gold. This is a story of an undocumented immigrant, likely a Holocaust survivor, eluding a police manhunt while he searches for the only person who can prevent his deportation. Strong performances by Gloria Grahame and Vittorio Gassman. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Glass Wall

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Peter (Vittorio Gassman) is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York City to search for a World War II veteran whom he helped during the war. If he can find this veteran (Jerry Paris), he believes it can help prove his case that he deserves American citizenship. But if he can't find him within 24 hours, he'll be branded a fugitive and forever barred from reentry into America.
      Director
      Maxwell Shane
      Production Co
      Columbia Pictures
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      Feb 9, 2010
      Runtime
      1h 22m