Time Limit is a 1957 courtroom drama film directed by actor Karl Malden, his only directing credit. In his autobiography, Malden stated that "he preferred being a good actor to being a fairly good director."
Plot
Army Colonel William Edwards (Richard Widmark) is investigating the case of Major Harry Cargill (Richard Basehart), accused of collaborating with the enemy while he and his unit were held captive in a North Korean prisoner of war camp. Cargill willingly admits his guilt and brings forth evidence that proves that he signed a germ-warfare confession and broadcast anti-American speeches over the radio, seemingly an act of treason.
It seems to be an open and shut case, were it not for Cargill's inexplicable refusal to defend himself. Arousing further suspicion is the fact that his collaboration immediately followed the deaths of two of his soldiers, and the surviving members in the unit all recite an identical, rehearsed account of those deaths. Edwards' commander, General Connors (Carl Benton Reid), has a strong personal interest - his son, Captain Joe Connors (Yale Wexler), was one of two men killed - and presses him to seek a swift court martial, but Edwards delves into the mystery, refusing to accept the facile explanations.
In the end, the shocking truth comes out. Lieutenant George Miller (Rip Torn) reveals that after Lieutenant Harvey (Manning Ross) was killed trying to escape, the rest of the men discovered that, under torture, Captain Connors had betrayed him. Over Cargill's strong objections, they decided to execute the traitor; Miller picked the short straw and had to strangle him. Meanwhile, their captor, Colonel Kim (Khigh Dhiegh), had given Cargill an ultimatum: give in, or all his men would be executed. Edwards recommends that all charges be dropped.
Cast
- Richard Widmark as Colonel William Edwards
- Richard Basehart as Major Harry Cargill
- Dolores Michaels as Corporal Jean Evans
- June Lockhart as Mrs. Cargill
- Carl Benton Reid as General Connors
- Martin Balsam as Sergeant Baker
- Rip Torn as Lieutenant George Miller
- Khigh Dhiegh as Colonel Kim (as Kaie Deei)
- Yale Wexler as Captain Joe Connors
- Alan Dexter as Mike
- Manning Ross as Lieutenant Harvey
- Joe Di Reda as Gus (as Joe Di Rida)
- James Douglas as Steve
- Kenneth Alton as Boxer
- Jack Webster as Lieutenant Harper
Production
In addition to playing the lead, Richard Widmark also co-produced Time Limit. Widmark reportedly paid $100,000 to The Theatre Guild for the film rights to the play Time Limit. It was the first picture for Widmark's independent production company, Heath Productions, Inc.
It was also his idea to have his friend and colleague, Karl Malden, direct it. In a 1988 interview about the film, Malden said, "Widmark thought I'd be good directing it, and I said 'Sure, I'd take a crack at it.' I liked what it had to say." Critics gave Malden good reviews for his first directorial effort. (It turned out to be his only directing credit, with the exception of some scenes he filmed for Delmer Daves in The Hanging Tree, released in 1959.) One reviewer praised the movie for its "taut direction and vigorous performances drawn not only from principals, but a supporting cast of promising new-comers."
Most of the film was shot on location at Fort Jay on Governors Island, New York; additional scenes were also shot at the Conejo Ranch near Agoura, California.
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