''Edge of Hell'' is a 1956 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

produced, written and directed by

Hugo Haas Hugo Haas (19 February 1901 – 1 December 1968) was a Czech film actor, director and writer. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1926 and 1962, as well as directing 20 films between 1933 and 1962. Life and career Haas was born in B ...

. The film stars Hugo Haas, Francesca De Scaffa, June Shelley, Jeffrey Stone, Ken Carlton and Syra Marty. The film was shot in 1953 under the title Tender Hearts. The film was given a more lurid exploitation title when it was picked up by

Universal-International Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

Pictures and released on July 18, 1956.

Plot

Mr. Valentine is an urbane panhandler with a wealth of friends and an amazing best friend, a performing dog named Flip. Things change dramatically for Mr. Valentine when his fellow tenant Helen Baxter's boyfriend, a chauffeur for a millionaire, suggests Valentine and Flip put on a show for the birthday party of the millionaire's spoiled son. The show entertains all the children and the millionaire and Mr. Valentine become friends. The former rewards the latter with not only money and drinks, but a large leftover dinner and cake with several bottles of spirits. However the son demands to have Flip for himself with Mr. Valentine turning down an offer of $500. Mr. Valentine throws a party with his gifts for his friends including another tenant, French prostitute Jenette Delatour and her pimp. After the height of wealth and the esteem of his party guests, Mr. Valentine soon goes to the depths when his health fails. He is no longer able to perform with Flip on the streets, and he is evicted from his basement for continued non payment of his rent. The lack of food and bad weather also get to Flip whose health suffers. Mr. Valentine has to force himself to sell Flip to the millionaire so Flip's health will improve, but as the millionaire is away, his wife will only give Mr. Valentine $50 that he accepts in order to give Flip a good home. Flip pines for his master and won't eat whilst the pimp, who believes Mr. Valentine has received $500 conspires with a violent criminal to rob Mr. Valentine.

Cast

as Mr. Valentine *Francesca De Scaffa as Jenette Delatour *June Shelley as Helen Baxter * Jeffrey Stone as Freddy *Ken Carlton as Billy *Syra Marty as Syra *John Vosper as Charles Hawkins * Tracey Roberts as Mrs. Hawkins *Anthony Jochim as Butler *Pat Goldin as Foxie *

Julie Mitchum Julie Mitchum (born Annette Mitchum, July 23, 1914 – February 21, 2003) was an American actress. Biography Mitchum was born in Charleston, South Carolina, to James Thomas Mitchum and Ann Harriet Gunderson. Unlike her younger brothers ...

as Miss Halsey *

Sid Melton Sidney Meltzer (May 22, 1917 – November 2, 2011), known professionally as Sid Melton, was an American actor. He played the roles of incompetent carpenter Alf Monroe in the CBS sitcom '' Green Acres'' and Uncle Charlie Halper, proprietor ...

as Schreck * Burt Mustin as Mr. Morrison *Steve Mitchell as Bus Driver

Reception

Leonard Maltin awarded the film one and a half stars.page 192

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0049171, Edge of Hell 1956 films American drama films 1956 drama films Universal Pictures films Films directed by Hugo Haas Films about dogs 1950s English-language films 1950s American films American black-and-white films