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Time Limit

Play trailer Poster for Time Limit Released Oct 23, 1957 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Maj. Cargill (Richard Basehart) is accused of aiding his captors while held in a North Korean prison during the war and brought up on charges of treason. Col. William Edwards (Richard Widmark) has been assigned to defend the major in his court martial, but it's not an easy case for the colonel. More than a dozen witnesses are prepared to testify against Cargill, and the major himself admits his guilt. But Edwards begins to suspect that the major is innocent and covering up for someone else.
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Time Limit

Critics Reviews

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Film Culture Staff Film Culture Karl Malden's first directorial assignment on the themes of "brainwashing" and "collaboration" in Chinese prison camps. Malden's crisp style does not yet have any personal quality. Film is handicapped by unduly melodramatic revelations. Jun 7, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy There have been dozens of actors who tried their one-and-done at directing, never again to venture behind the camera. Often lost in the conversation is Karl Malden. Rated: 3/4 May 4, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The taut direction, finely tuned philosophical screenplay and crisp performances, make this superior courtroom military film a suspenseful and cerebral one." Rated: B Mar 22, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
Audience Member Time Limit is a 1957 legal drama film directed by Karl Malden, his only directing credit. In his autobiography, Malden stated that he "preferred being a good actor to being a fairly good director." Richard Widmark co-produced the film and stars as well. SEE the entire film in installments starting here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5IjVwG4qZ4 [img]https://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/49/MPW-24641[/img] "Army Colonel William Edwards (Richard Widmark) is investigating the case of Major Harry Cargill (Richard Basehart), accused of collaborating with the enemy while he and his unit were held captive in a North Korean prisoner of war camp. Cargill willingly admits his guilt and brings forth evidence that proves that he signed a germ-warfare confession and broadcast anti-American speeches over the radio, seemingly an act of treason."--- wikipedia REVIEWS by those like us: 70% Too many times, I have been somewhat disappointed by a so-called old school classic movie that I finally get around to watching. Then there are those like this one... NOTES: 1 It was the first picture for Widmark's independent production company, Heath Productions, Inc. 2 In a 1988 interview about the film, Malden said, "Widmark thought I'd be good directing it, and I said 'Sure, I'd take a crack at it.' I liked what it had to say." Critics gave Malden good reviews for his first (and only) directorial effort. [img]https://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/53/MPW-26768[/img] Cast Richard Widmark as Colonel William Edwards Richard Basehart as Major Harry Cargill Dolores Michaels as Corporal Jean Evans June Lockhart as Mrs. Cargill Carl Benton Reid as General Connors Martin Balsam as Sergeant First Class Baker Rip Torn as Lieutenant George Miller Khigh Dhiegh as Colonel Kim (as Kaie Deei) Yale Wexler as Captain Joe Connors Alan Dexter as Mike Manning Ross as Lieutenant Harvey Joe Di Reda as Gus (as Joe Di Rida) James Douglas as Steve Kenneth Alton as Boxer Jack Webster as Lieutenant Harper Directed by Karl Malden Produced by Richard Widmark William H. Reynolds Written by Henry Denker Music by Fred Steiner Cinematography Sam Leavitt Editing by Aaron Stell Distributed by United Artists Release dates October 23, 1957 (U.S. release) Running time 96 minutes [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9f/Timelimitpost.jpg/220px-Timelimitpost.jpg[/img] Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member âTime Limit❠is an interesting military drama about the investigation into a possible case of treason. Richard Widmark plays an Army lawyer preparing a recommendation for military courts martial of a Korean War veteran and former POW, played by Richard Basehart, who may have collaborated with the enemy. The movie is the solo feature directed by actor Karl Malden and it comes off as a very effective and swift moving drama. The movie also features terrific performances by Martin Balsam, June Lockhart, Rip Torn and Dolores Michaels⦠Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Too many times, I have been somewhat disappointed by a so-called old school classic movie that I finally get around to watching. Then there are those rare moments where I stumble across a film I've never heard of, and I come away pleasantly surprised. Time Limit, directed by Karl Malden and starring Richard Widmark, Rip Torn, and Richard Basehart, falls into the latter group. While a little heavy on the dialog, it's a fine film that deserves more notoriety. Widmark stars as a Colonel Edwards, who must decide whether Major Cargill, played by Basehart, should be court marshaled for treason for his unpatriotic deeds while in a Korean War POW camp. Other significant players are Rip Torn as one of his accusers, Carl Benton Reid as Edwards' superior, and Dolores Michaels as the stunning Corporal Evans. June Lockhart has a single scene as Cargill's troubled wife. Martin Balsam gets plenty of face time as the needling Sergeant Baker. No need to give away the particulars of the case and partially ruin the movie, but it will be suffice to say that there are a couple of twists and turns that you half expect are coming, but they should provide plenty of surprise nonetheless. This film compares favorably to the similar but more highly regarded Stalag 17. I only wish we had more insight into the events inside the camp. Most of the film, in fact, takes place inside Colonel Edwards' office. What we do see of the POW camp is certainly more realistic and gritty then what we got in the Stalag film. Time Limit is a little heavy on the melodramatic dialog, but it is compelling, thought provoking material. The dialog, however, might have carried more weight if we had a little less of it, and more substantial scenes from inside that camp. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Good if unexceptional war crimes drama. Solid performances from the always fine Richard Widmark as well as Richard Basehart, Martin Balsam and an impossibly young Rip Torn. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A ton of names in this 1957 flick directed by the late great Karl Malden. The film stars American cinema icon Richard Widmark as an American colonel desperate to save an Army major facing court-martial. The film also has a young Rip Torn and Martin Balsam. A solid film, worth a watch if you are into the classics. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Not as sophisticated but no less effective than "The Manchurian Candidate". Edgy performance by Richard Basehart. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Time Limit

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Maj. Cargill (Richard Basehart) is accused of aiding his captors while held in a North Korean prison during the war and brought up on charges of treason. Col. William Edwards (Richard Widmark) has been assigned to defend the major in his court martial, but it's not an easy case for the colonel. More than a dozen witnesses are prepared to testify against Cargill, and the major himself admits his guilt. But Edwards begins to suspect that the major is innocent and covering up for someone else.
Director
Karl Malden
Producer
Richard Widmark, William Reynolds
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
United Artists
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 23, 1957, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 16, 2017
Runtime
1h 36m
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