The Night Holds Terror (1955)
The Night Holds Terror is a 1955 American crime film noir based on a true incident, written and directed by Andrew L. Stone and starring Vince Edwards, John Cassavetes and Jack Kelly.
Director – Andrew L. Stone
Writer – Andrew L. Stone
Cast –
Jack Kelly as Gene Courtier
Hildy Parks as Doris Courtier
Vince Edwards as Victor Gosset
John Cassavetes as Robert Batsford
David Cross as Luther Logan
Eddie Marr as Captain Cole
Jack Kruschen as Detective Pope
Joyce McCluskey as Phyllis Harrison
Jonathan Hale as Bob Henderson
Barney Phillips as Stranske
Roy Neal as TV Newsreader
Joel Marston as Reporter
Guy Kingsford as Police Technician
Stanley Andrews as Mr Courtier (uncredited)
Charles Herbert as Steven Courtier (uncredited)
Barbara Woodell as Mrs. Osmond (uncredited)
William Woodson as Narrator (uncredited)
Watch “The Night Holds Terror” (1955)
Plot
Family man Gene Courtier picks up hitchhiker Victor Gosset, a wanted criminal who was a dangle for a gang of three robbers headed by Robert Batsford and new addition Luther Logan. When the gang discovers he only has a few dollars in cash they decide to force Courtier to sell his valuable car and turn the money over to them. The dealer can’t pay such a large sum out so late in the day, so they leave with Courtier and head to the family home in a nearby suburban development. The plan is to overnight there, accompany Courtier in the morning so he can collect his money, and leave. Instead of crashing his car and bringing attention to himself and the criminals, he foolishly places his entire family in mortal danger.
The night becomes a night of terror, anxiety and bickering for both Courtiers, and upheaval and fear for their two young children.
In the morning Courtier’s family is left behind, unhurt, and the plan to get the car proceeds successfully. Before Courtier can be murdered on a desert turnoff, one of the hoodlums, Logan, suggests they instead hold him for ransom. He has discovered Courtier’s father owns a chain of stores in the Los Angeles area, and Batsford decides to demand $200,000. The senior Courtier is given overnight to round such a large sum then up.
Meanwhile, Courtier’s wife calls the police, who begin to trace any calls they can between the gang and any principals. The hoodlums retire with Courtier to their expensive hillside hideout, and behind the scenes the police begin to close in. There is friction within the gang, and a combined escape attempt of Logan and Courtier ends up with Logan shot dead by Batsford and Courtier recaptured.
Ultimately Mrs. Courtier stalls long enough for a successful trace. The police are ready, and scores of squad cars close in on the target area. There is a shootout near a phonebooth in a deserted industrial area, Batsford and Gossett are wounded, and Courtier is safely reunited with his wife.