Violent Road
Violent Road, also known as Hell's Highway, is a 1958 American film directed by Howard W. Koch, written by Richard H. Landau, and starring Brian Keith, Dick Foran, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Merry Anders, Sean Garrison and Joanna Barnes. A remake of The Wages of Fear,[1][2] it was released by Warner Bros. on April 11, 1958.[3][4]
Violent Road | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Howard W. Koch |
Produced by | Aubrey Schenck |
Screenplay by | Richard H. Landau |
Story by | Don Martin |
Starring | Brian Keith Dick Foran Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Merry Anders Sean Garrison Joanna Barnes |
Music by | Leith Stevens |
Cinematography | Carl E. Guthrie |
Edited by | John F. Schreyer |
Production company | Aubrey Schenck Productions |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
An out-of-control test rocket causes death and destruction and requires the relocation of the rocket development plant. Trucker Mitch Barton (Brian Keith) assembles a team of several other men for a nearly suicidal mission to drive three trucks to move the rocket fuel—hydrazine, nitric acid, and concentrated hydrogen peroxide—safely over a rough mountain road within three days. Fuel developer George Lawrence (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) feels responsible for a safe passage and comes along.
The men take the dangerous job for an exorbitant fee of 5,000 dollars each and discuss what they will do with the money. When his brother Ben is too drunk to drive, race car driver Ken takes his place. Frank Miller, determined to provide for his nagging wife, takes the job. He prevents a possible explosion by closing a valve on a nitric oxide tank with his bare hand and dies of his injuries.
Detoured by breakdowns, fatigue and a treacherous terrain, plus a runaway school bus, Mitch and the men arrive at their destination and receive their pay.
Cast
- Brian Keith as Mitch Barton
- Dick Foran as Frank 'Sarge' Miller
- Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as George Lawrence
- Merry Anders as Carrie
- Sean Garrison as Ken Farley
- Joanna Barnes as Peg Lawrence
- Perry Lopez as Manuelo
- Arthur Batanides as Ben
- Ed Prentiss as Mr. Nelson
- Ann Doran as Edith Miller
- John Dennis as Pat Farley
References
- Dawson, Jonathan. "The Wages of Fear". Senses of Cinema. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- "Essay". filmradar.com.
- "Violent Road". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
- "Violent-Road - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". NYTimes.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.