''The Cruel Tower'' is a 1956 American
adventure film
An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...
directed by
Lew Landers
Lew Landers (born Louis Friedlander, January 2, 1901 – December 16, 1962) was an American independent film and television director.
Biography
Born as Louis Friedlander in New York City, Lew Landers began his movie career as an actor. In 1914, ...
and written by
Warren Douglas
Warren Douglas (born Warren Douglas Wandberg; July 29, 1911 – November 15, 1997) was an American actor and screenwriter.
Career
Born in Minneapolis, Douglas was a 1929 graduate of Minneapolis South High School. He later attended the Minneapo ...
. It is based on the 1955 novel ''The Cruel Tower'' by William Brown Hartley. The film stars
John Ericson
John Ericson (sometimes spelled Erickson; September 25, 1926 – May 3, 2020) was a German-American film and television actor known primarily for his co-star role with actress Anne Francis on the ABC television series ''Honey West'' in the 196 ...
,
Mari Blanchard
Mari Blanchard (born Mary E. Blanchard, April 13, 1923 – May 10, 1970) was an American film and television actress, known foremost for her roles as a B movie femme fatale in American productions of the 1950s and early 1960s.
Early life and c ...
,
Charles McGraw
Charles McGraw (born Charles Crisp Butters; May 10, 1914 – July 29, 1980) was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned more than three decades.
Early life
McGraw was born to Beatrice (née Crisp) and Francis P. B ...
,
Steve Brodie,
Peter Whitney
Peter Whitney (born Peter King Engle; May 24, 1916 – March 30, 1972) was an American actor in film and television. Tall and heavyset, he played brutish villains in many Hollywood films in the 1940s and 1950s.
Early years
Whitney was born ...
and
Alan Hale Jr.
Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; (March 8, 1921 - January 2, 1990) was an American actor and restaurateur. He was the son of actor Alan Hale Sr. His television career spanned four decades, but he was best known for his secondary lead role ...
The film was released on October 28, 1956, by
Allied Artists Pictures.
Plot
Cast
*
John Ericson
John Ericson (sometimes spelled Erickson; September 25, 1926 – May 3, 2020) was a German-American film and television actor known primarily for his co-star role with actress Anne Francis on the ABC television series ''Honey West'' in the 196 ...
as Tom Kittredge
*
Mari Blanchard
Mari Blanchard (born Mary E. Blanchard, April 13, 1923 – May 10, 1970) was an American film and television actress, known foremost for her roles as a B movie femme fatale in American productions of the 1950s and early 1960s.
Early life and c ...
as Mary 'The Babe' Thompson
*
Charles McGraw
Charles McGraw (born Charles Crisp Butters; May 10, 1914 – July 29, 1980) was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned more than three decades.
Early life
McGraw was born to Beatrice (née Crisp) and Francis P. B ...
as Harry 'Stretch' Clay
*
Steve Brodie as Casey
*
Peter Whitney
Peter Whitney (born Peter King Engle; May 24, 1916 – March 30, 1972) was an American actor in film and television. Tall and heavyset, he played brutish villains in many Hollywood films in the 1940s and 1950s.
Early years
Whitney was born ...
as 'Joss' Jossman
*
Alan Hale Jr.
Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; (March 8, 1921 - January 2, 1990) was an American actor and restaurateur. He was the son of actor Alan Hale Sr. His television career spanned four decades, but he was best known for his secondary lead role ...
as Rocky Milliken
*
Diana Darrin
Diana Darrin (born Harriett B. Tenin; April 15, 1933) is an American actress and singer. She has made over 35 film and television appearances in her career.
Early years
Darrin was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Tenin.
Career
Diana Darrin i ...
as Kit
*Carol Kelly as Waitress
*Barbara Bell Wright as Rev. Claver
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruel Tower
1956 films
1950s English-language films
American adventure films
1956 adventure films
Allied Artists films
Films directed by Lew Landers
1950s American films
American black-and-white films