An unhappy man threatens suicide by standing on the ledge of a high-rise building for 14 hours.An unhappy man threatens suicide by standing on the ledge of a high-rise building for 14 hours.An unhappy man threatens suicide by standing on the ledge of a high-rise building for 14 hours.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total
Howard Da Silva
- Deputy Police Chief Moskar
- (as Howard da Silva)
Parley Baer
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
George Baxter
- Attorney
- (uncredited)
Leonard Bell
- Cab Driver for Mrs. Fuller
- (uncredited)
Richard Beymer
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film is based on a real-life incident that happened July 26, 1938, in New York City. John William Warde, 26, after a 12 hour standoff, leaped 17 floors to his death from the ledge outside a room at the Gotham Hotel.
- GoofsAt the end of the movie the son of Officer Dunnigan enters through the revolving door in a clockwise, wrong, direction. Officer Dunnigan and he hug and then leave the hotel, exiting through the revolving door, again pushing it in a clockwise, wrong, direction even though all revolving doors turn in a counter-clockwise direction. The push handles are clearly visible on the opposite side of the door.
- Quotes
Walter, room service waiter: [Calling to report jumper] Operator!
Hotel Switchboard Operator: [Sips from cup] Good morning.
Walter, room service waiter: This is the waiter in 1505.
Hotel Switchboard Operator: I'll connect you with room service.
Walter, room service waiter: No, no!
Walter, room service waiter: I don't want a waiter, I am a waiter!
[pauses briefly]
Walter, room service waiter: There's a man!
- Crazy credits[END TITLE]
Out of past experience, the emergency rescue squad of the New York Police has developed techniques to deal with problems of this nature quietly, quickly and efficiently. For their expert advice and cooperation in the filming of this picture we are particularly grateful.
- Alternate versionsTwo endings were shot, one in which Richard Basehart dies, one in which he doesn't. Some original prints show the two different endings one right after the other.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Stars of the Silver Screen: Grace Kelly (2013)
Featured review
Pretty Good Little Film
I've watched this film a couple of times on the Fox Movie Channel and I really think it's a pretty good little suspense/drama. Richard Basehart plays a man on the edge who decides to try and end it all perched on the ledge of a Manhattan hotel. The first on the scene is traffic cop Paul Douglas who does his best to try and befriend, comfort and hopefully coax the unbalanced man back inside. The performances are all pretty good though some of the dialogue rings a bit hokey at times. I believe this was also Grace Kelly's first film role. Director Henry Hathaway does a pretty good job of wringing out the drama and suspense and gives the film a nice, big city feel using some pretty impressive sets in the foreground and background. All in all, a pretty enjoyable film that I wouldn't mind picking up on DVD, though I don't believe it is currently available.
helpful•214
- BillDP
- Sep 25, 2003
Details
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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