Behind the High Wall

Last updated
Behind the High Wall
Behind the High Wall film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Abner Biberman
Screenplay by Harold Jack Bloom
Story byRichard K. Polimer
Wallace Sullivan
Produced byStanley Rubin
Starring Tom Tully
Sylvia Sidney
Cinematography Maury Gertsman
Edited by Ted J. Kent
Color process Black and white
Production
company
Universal International Pictures
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • July 1956 (1956-07)(USA)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Behind the High Wall is a 1956 American film noir crime film directed by Abner Biberman starring Tom Tully and Sylvia Sidney.

Contents

It featured an early performance by John Gavin who had just signed with Universal. [1] It was sometimes referred to as his first film [2] although he had appeared in Raw Edge under another name. In March 1956 it was said "John Gilmore" was in the film but in the credits he is called "John Gavin". [3]

Plot

Inmates pull a prison break, taking the warden and another prisoner as hostages. But when the car gets into a crash, killing the others, the warden makes off with the gang's loot and places the blame on the other hostage.

Cast

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gavin</span> American actor (1931–2018)

John Gavin was an American actor and diplomat who was the president of the Screen Actors Guild (1971–1973), and the United States Ambassador to Mexico (1981–1986). Among the films he appeared in were A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958), Imitation of Life (1959), Spartacus (1960), Psycho (1960), Midnight Lace (1960) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), playing leading roles for producer Ross Hunter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Tierney</span> American actor (1919–2002)

Lawrence James Tierney was an American film and television actor who is best known for his many screen portrayals of mobsters and "tough-guys" in a career that spanned over fifty years. His roles mirrored his own frequent brushes with the law. In 2005, film critic David Kehr of The New York Times described "the hulking Tierney" as "not so much an actor as a frightening force of nature".

<i>The Big Combo</i> 1955 American film noir crime film by Joseph H. Lewis

The Big Combo is a 1955 American crime film noir directed by Joseph H. Lewis, written by Philip Yordan and photographed by cinematographer John Alton, with music by David Raksin. The film stars Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte and Brian Donlevy, as well as Jean Wallace, who was Wilde's wife at the time. The supporting cast features Lee Van Cleef, Earl Holliman and the final screen appearance of actress Helen Walker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Beddoe</span> American actor (1903–1991)

Donald Theophilus Beddoe was an American character actor.

<i>The Brasher Doubloon</i> 1947 American crime film noir by John Brahm

The Brasher Doubloon is a 1947 American crime film noir directed by John Brahm and starring George Montgomery and Nancy Guild. It is based on the 1942 novel The High Window by Raymond Chandler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Hallahan</span> American actor (1943–1997)

Charles John Hallahan was an American film, television, and stage actor. His films include Going in Style, and Nightwing (1979), The Thing (1982), Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), Vision Quest and Pale Rider (1985), Cast a Deadly Spell (1991), and Dante's Peak (1997). On television he appeared in The Rockford Files, Happy Days and Hawaii Five-O, played Chet Wilke in Lou Grant (1979–1982), M* A* S* H and Hill Street Blues (1981), The Equalizer (1985), and as Capt. Charlie Devane in Hunter from 1986 to 1991.

<i>The Power</i> (1968 film) 1968 American science fiction film directed by Byron Haskin

The Power is a 1968 American tech noir thriller film from MGM, produced by George Pal, directed by Byron Haskin, that stars George Hamilton and Suzanne Pleshette. It is based on the 1956 science fiction novel The Power by Frank M. Robinson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Tully</span> American actor (1908–1982)

Thomas Kane Tulley was an American actor. He began his career in radio and on the stage before making his film debut in Northern Pursuit (1943). Subsequently, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in The Caine Mutiny (1954).

<i>Mr. Ace</i> 1946 film by Edwin L. Marin

Mr. Ace is a 1946 American film noir starring George Raft and Sylvia Sidney involving a society woman who taps a gangster for his political support as she runs for Congress. The movie was written by Fred F. Finkelhoffe, directed by Edwin L. Marin, and photographed by legendary cinematographer Karl Struss.

<i>Tornado</i> (1943 film) 1943 film by William A. Berke

Tornado is a 1943 film directed by William A. Berke and starring Chester Morris and Nancy Kelly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Smith (actor)</span> American actor (1931–1995)

John Smith was an American actor whose career primarily focused on westerns. He had his leading roles in two NBC western television series, Cimarron City and Laramie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mitchum</span> American film actor and musician (1919–2001)

John Mitchum was an American actor from the 1940s to the 1970s in film and television. The younger brother of the actor Robert Mitchum, he was credited as Jack Mitchum early in his career.

<i>Violent Saturday</i> 1955 film by Richard Fleischer

Violent Saturday is a 1955 American CinemaScope crime film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Victor Mature, Richard Egan and Stephen McNally. Set in a fictional mining town in Arizona, the film depicts the planning of a bank robbery as the nexus in the personal lives of several townspeople. Filmed on location in Bisbee, Arizona, the supporting cast was particularly strong, with Lee Marvin, Sylvia Sidney, and Ernest Borgnine.

<i>Edge of the City</i> 1957 film by Martin Ritt

Edge of the City is a 1957 American crime drama film directed by Martin Ritt in his directorial debut, and starring John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. Robert Alan Aurthur's screenplay was expanded from his original script, staged as the final episode of Philco Television Playhouse, A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (1955), also featuring Poitier.

The Abductors is a 1957 American film noir crime film directed by Andrew McLaglen and starring Victor McLaglen, George Macready and Gavin Muir. It was produced by Regal Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Shannon (actor)</span> American actor (1890–1964)

Harry Shannon was an American character actor. He often appeared in Western films.

<i>Chicago Confidential</i> 1957 film by Sidney Salkow

Chicago Confidential is a 1957 American crime film noir directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Brian Keith, Beverly Garland and Dick Foran. It is based on the 1950 book Chicago: Confidential! by Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer.

<i>Grantchester</i> (TV series) British detective drama

Grantchester is a British ITV detective drama set in the 1950s in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester. Its first series was broadcast in 2014. The first three series featured Anglican vicar Sidney Chambers ; subsequent series have featured vicar William Davenport. Each of them develops a sideline in sleuthing with the help of Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, played by Robson Green.

<i>Quantez</i> 1957 film by Harry Keller

Quantez is a 1957 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Harry Keller and starring Fred MacMurray and Dorothy Malone.

<i>The Glass House</i> (1972 film) 1972 American TV series or program

Truman Capote's The Glass House is a 1972 American made-for-television drama film starring Alan Alda, Vic Morrow, and Clu Gulager, directed by Tom Gries. It originally aired on CBS on February 4, 1972.

References

  1. Schallert, Edwin (June 22, 1956). "Drama: Third Cagney Subject Developed by Writer; Stevens Slates 'Feud'". Los Angeles Times. p. 23.
  2. THOMAS M. PRYOR (July 17, 1957). "LONDON STAGE HIT BOUGHT FOR FILM: 'Summer of the Seventeenth Doll' Sold to Hecht--John Gavin Gets Starring Role Cast in 'Time to Love' Columbia Jobs Shifted". New York Times. p. 21.
  3. "Drama: 'Old Man and Sea' Youth Quest Slated". Los Angeles Times. Feb 1, 1956. p. 17.