House of Numbers (1957 film)
House of Numbers is a 1957 American film noir, based on author Jack Finney's 1957 novel of the same name, starring Jack Palance and Barbara Lang.[2][3]
| House of Numbers | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Russell Rouse |
| Screenplay by | Don Mankiewicz Russell Rouse |
| Based on | the novel House of Numbers by Jack Finney |
| Produced by | Charles Schnee |
| Starring | Jack Palance Barbara Lang |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
| Edited by | John McSweeney Jr. |
| Music by | André Previn |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,008,000[1] |
| Box office | $1.1 million[1] |
In the film, Palance plays two similar-looking brothers: Bill and his younger brother Arnie Judlow.[4] Bill is a good citizen, trying to help his ex-professional boxer brother, Arnie, convicted of murder, escape from San Quentin State Prison to return to Arnie's wife, Ruth, played by Lang.[5]
The movie was filmed on location at San Quentin and set in San Quentin and Mill Valley, California, then the home city of author Finney.[6]
Plot
Arnie Judlow (Jack Palance) is an imprisoned gangster. During a prison visit, Bill Judlow, his law-abiding brother, switches places, allowing himself to be incarcerated as the real criminal walks free. Ruth Judlow (Barbara Lang), wife of one of the Judlow boys, wavers in her loyalties.[7]
Cast
- Jack Palance as Arnie Judlow / Bill Judlow
- Harold J. Stone as Henry Nova - Prison Guard
- Edward Platt as The Warden
- Barbara Lang as Mrs. Ruth Judlow
- Frank Watkins as Brother
- Joe Conley as Convict in line
Reception
According to MGM records the film earned $500,000 in the US and Canada and $600,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $92,000.[1]
See also
References
- The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- Oliver, Myrna (November 17, 1995). "Jack Finney; Wrote 'The Body Snatchers'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
- House of Numbers at the American Film Institute Catalog.
- Blum, Daniel (1958). Screen World Vol. 9. Biblo & Tannen. p. 108. ISBN 0-8196-0264-7. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
- Meli, MaryAlice (August 26, 2008). "Hillsville native details plan for Wayne halfway house". New Castle News. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
- Spicer, Andrew (2010). Historical dictionary of film noir. Scarecrow Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-8108-5960-9. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
- "House of Numbers (1957) - Russell Rouse | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
External links
- House of Numbers at the American Film Institute Catalog
- House of Numbers at IMDb
- House of Numbers at AllMovie
- House of Numbers at the TCM Movie Database
- House of Numbers film review at Prisonmovies.net