''The Trap Snaps Shut at Midnight'' (german: Um Null Uhr schnappt die Falle zu) is a 1966 West German

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by

Harald Philipp Harald Philipp (1921–1999) was a German film director, screenwriter and actor. Selected filmography * ''The Old Forester House'' (1956) * ''The Csardas King'' (1958) * ''A Thousand Stars Aglitter'' (1959) * ' (1960) * ''Brandenburg Division'' ...

and starring

George Nader George Garfield Nader, Jr. (October 19, 1921 – February 4, 2002) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 to 1974, including ''Sins of Jezebel'' (1953), ''Congo Crossing'' (1956), and ''The Female Animal'' ...

Horst Frank Horst Frank (28 May 1929 – 25 May 1999) was a German film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1955 and 1999. He was born in Lübeck, Germany and died in Heidelberg, Germany. Selected filmography * ''Der Stern von Afrika'' (19 ...

and

Heinz Weiss Heinz Weiss (12 June 192120 November 2010) was a German film actor. Weiss is best known for playing the role of Phil Decker in the Jerry Cotton series of films and the role of Captain Heinz Hansen in ''Das Traumschiff''. He also played the chara ...

. It was the fourth film in the

Jerry Cotton Jerry Cotton is the fictional character in a series of pulp magazine-type crime novels. The novels have been written by many different writers in German-speaking countries and in Finland over the course of several decades. Overview The novels ...

series.Blake, Deal, p.20f

Plot

A delivery truck of nitroglycerin is turned away from a mining area when an accident occurs. Two criminals, Lew Hutton and Fat Krusky, are waiting at a local diner to steal the truck, believing it to be empty. Hutton pulls over because the truck is driving sluggishly, and when the find the canisters of nitroglycerin, Krusky runs off. Later, Hutton uses the truck in Manhattan for a bogus accident which is a cover for a jewelry store robbery, committed by his accomplice, Maureen. The NYPD cordons off the area because of the warning notices on the truck, but when the head of the chemical company that owns the truck, Dr. Smeat, arrives, they discover the 20 canisters of nitroglycerin have been removed. The NYPD decides to call in the FBI. Jerry Cotton is called onto the case, but suggests to the department chief, Mr. High, that Phil Decker be placed in charge of the investigation. They are told by Dr. Smeat that the nitroglycerin must be kept cool, and that it's packed in ice, but they only have about 30 hours before it becomes unstable. The gangster Larry Link hears about the robbery and has Krusky tortured, but without getting any information. Maureen appears at Link's headquarters and offers to help him find the nitroglycerin for payment. Maureen tells Link that Hutton got his information about where to hijack the truck from Dr. Smeat's secretary, Ruth Warren. Link sends his goons to Ruth's apartment to find out where Hutton is hiding. Cotton and Decker discover the connection between Warren and Hutton, and go to interview Warren. They find her being held by Link's men, and a fight happens. Freed, Warren tells Cotton and Decker where to find Hutton: at his mother's pinball arcade. Cotton persuades Hutton to take, gets hold of the canisters. Link and his men are already at the hiding place, and Cotton is knocked out. When Cotton comes to, he finds out Link has killed Hutton and has the canisters of nitroglycerin. Link then informs the FBI he wants one million dollars for the canisters, otherwise he will let one of them explode somewhere in Manhattan. Link then calls a NYC newspaper with the information about the missing nitroglycerin to put pressure on the government and embarrass the FBI. This causes a panic in Manhattan. Cotton trails one of Link's henchmen and discovers they have one of the canisters hanging from The Manhattan Bridge, and manages to stop the goon from setting off the nitroglycerin. Dr. Smeat shows up to help cool down the canister. Link decides to kidnap Dr. Smeat to pressure the FBI further. The FBI decides to pay the ransom as a trap. The money handed over to Maureen in a briefcase, who escapes in a taxi. She takes the money to Link's accomplices, while Link stays with canisters and maintains contact over the radio. When Link's hears radio interference, he has his men search the briefcase. When they find the FBI had planted a tracking device in the case, Cotton and Decker bust in. Link hears this over his radio decides to set off the nitroglycerin, but Dr. Smeat yells their location (the Pennsylvania Express) over the radio to Cotton before Link can knock Dr. Smeat out. Cotton races to the railway and is able to kills Link before time is up. The FBI countdown clock stops at 0:07 minutes before the canisters get too warm. Jerry is granted a well-deserved vacation, but as he's at the airport, he's called over the PA system that he's needed.

Cast

as Jerry Cotton *

as Larry Link *

Phil Decker Phil Decker is a fictional character in Heinz Werner Höber's ''Jerry Cotton'' novels. He is Cotton's sidekick and a fellow FBI agent. Subsequently, he appeared in the films ''Manhattan Night of Murder'' (1965), '' Tread Softly'' (1965) and six o ...

* Richard Münch as Mr. High *

Dominique Wilms Dominique Wilms (born 8 June 1930) is a Belgian film actress. Life and career Married to actor Jean Gaven, she was widowed by him in 2014.Lentz IIII, Harris. Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2014', p. 126. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarlan ...

as Maureen *

Allen Pinson Allen, Allen's or Allens may refer to: Buildings * Allen Arena, an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee * Allen Center, a skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, Texas * Allen Fieldhouse, an indoor sports arena on the Unive ...

as Harry *

Alexander Allerson Alexander Allerson is a German film and television actor.Watson p.299 Partial filmography * '' Man and Beast'' (1963), as SS-Man Goldap * ''Encounter in Salzburg'' (1964), as Mahlke * ''The Upper Hand'' (1966) * ''The Trap Snaps Shut at Midnight ...

as Husky * Monika Grimm as Ruth Warren * Helga Schlack as Helen Culver * Ricky Cooper as Pal *

Werner Abrolat Werner Abrolat (15 August 1924 – 24 August 1997) was a German actor best known for his role as various characters in the West German crime-drama television series '' Tatort''. After a long career at provincial theatres in West-Germany Abrol ...

as Krot

Bibliography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Trap Snaps Shut at Midnight 1966 films West German films German sequel films German crime thriller films 1960s crime thriller films 1960s German-language films Films directed by Harald Philipp Films set in the United States German black-and-white films Films based on crime novels Films based on German novels Constantin Film films 1960s German films