The Desperate Hours (play)

The Desperate Hours
Written by	Joseph Hayes
Characters	Eleanor Hillard Dan Hillard Glenn Griffin Robish Mr. Patterson Ralphie Hillard Harry Carson Chuck Wright Jesse Bard Hank Griffin Lt. Carl Fredericks Miss Swift Cindy Hillard Tom Winston
Date premiered	10 February 1955
Place premiered	Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Original language	English
Setting	Present day: Indianapolis, Indiana

The Desperate Hours is a 1955 play by Joseph Hayes, based on his 1954 thriller novel of the same title. The story, about three escaped convicts invading a family's home and holding them hostage, was the basis for the films The Desperate Hours in 1955 and Desperate Hours in 1990.

The play opened in New Haven's Shubert Theatre in 1955 before premiering on Broadway later that year.

The Desperate Hours won Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Direction in 1955.

References

• "The Desperate Hours". That Theatre Site. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
• "The Shubert Theater". CAPA New Haven. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-06-17.

External links

• ​The Desperate Hours​ at the Internet Broadway Database