The Desperate Hours
The Desperate Hours is a play by Joseph Hayes (1918-2006)[1].
Contents
The original text
Originally a novel (1954) about a family held hostage in their own house by three escaped convicts, turned into a stage play by the author. This was first produced in 1955 on Broadway with Karl Malden and Paul Newman. Then made into a Hollywood film by William Wyler in 1955 with Humphrey Bogart and Frederic March, remade in 1990 by Michael Cimino with Mickey Rourke and others.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1955: First produced in South Africa by Taubie Kushlick at His Majesty's Theatre Johannesburg, in association with ACT, starring Bill Brewer and Sadie Festenstein.
1958: A Durban production featured Malcolm Woolfson.
Sources
Tucker, 1997. 85.
Theatre programme (1958 production) held by NELM: [Collection: WOOLFSON, Malcolm L]: 1999. 113. 13. 17. 2.
Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
