Count the Hours
Count the Hours! is a 1953 crime film noir directed by Don Siegel, featuring Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, John Craven, and Jack Elam.[2]
| Count the Hours! | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Don Siegel |
| Produced by | Benedict Bogeaus |
| Screenplay by | Doane R. Hoag Karen DeWolf |
| Story by | Doane R. Hoag |
| Starring | Macdonald Carey Teresa Wright John Craven Jack Elam |
| Music by | Louis Forbes |
| Cinematography | John Alton |
| Edited by | James Leiceste |
Production company | Benedict Bogeaus Production |
| Distributed by | RKO Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 76 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
The bodies of farmer Fred Morgan and his housekeeper are found. Suspicion falls on hired hand George Braden, who owns a handgun that his pregnant wife Ellen disposes of in a panic.
Braden confesses under the interrogation of district attorney Jim Gillespie, possibly to spare his wife any more grief. Doug Madison is assigned the case in court, but doesn't believe in Braden's innocence until he sees Ellen diving into the lake, attempting to retrieve the gun.
Madison's fiancée doesn't want him defending an unpopular client because it could harm his political future. A diver hired by Madison makes a play for Ellen, and when he is fired, he suggests Madison is romantically involved with Ellen.
After a conviction and death sentence for Braden, it comes to Madison's attention that an ex-con named Max Verne had worked for the dead man and made threats after being dismissed. Madison ends up in a race against time to prove Braden's innocence before he is executed.
Cast
- Macdonald Carey as Doug Madison
- Teresa Wright as Ellen Braden
- John Craven as George Braden
- Jack Elam as Max Verne
- Edgar Barrier as D.A. Jim Gillespie
- Dolores Moran as Paula Mitchener
- Adele Mara as Gracie Sager, Max Verne's Girlfriend
- Ralph Sanford as Alvin Taylor
References
- "Count the Hours: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- Count the Hours at the TCM Movie Database.