A cast of then well known and future stars make "Cry Terror!" a tension filled suspense story, but you do have to overlook some inconsistencies in the story line. I for one found it less than credible that villain Paul Hoplin (Rod Steiger) would offer his hostage Joan Molner (Inger Stevens) the freedom to act as the go-between for the ransom money. It was a given that she would spill as much information as she could to the authorities while picking up the five hundred grand. The same could be said in the case of her husband Jim (James Mason). Hoplin's accomplices didn't keep a close eye on him at all, allowing the opportunity to devise a plan to save himself and his young daughter. I did think the elaborate scheme Hoplin came up with for Mrs. Molner to bring him the money was pretty clever, using a police band radio transmission. The trio of Neville Brand, Jack Klugman and Angie Dickinson made for a diverse group of actors playing against type, except for Brand, who had a lot of sinister roles as part of his résumé. When you consider what's available today in the way of cell phones, text and faxing capability, and the almost instantaneous exchange of information via electronic means, seeing how the police had to go door to door to locate a dental record to match that of Eileen Kelly (Dickinson) had to be extremely frustrating back in the day. It worked in the movie, but in actuality, how long would it have taken to comb the entirety of New York City dental offices to come up with a hit? As for the finale, having thought through so many facets of his ingenious ransom plan, I can't believe that Hoplin would fall victim to the old third rail gimmick. How could he have not known and taken the proper precaution?
Writer and director Andrew Stone had a small string of successful noir films teaming with his wife Virginia, who also acted as a musical editor. Following the success of "The Night Holds Terror", 'Julie" and this one, 'Cry Terror!", one columnist stated that they were on a roll, and took to calling them 'The Rolling Stones'. That was just about six years before a certain British musical group came on the scene.
Writer and director Andrew Stone had a small string of successful noir films teaming with his wife Virginia, who also acted as a musical editor. Following the success of "The Night Holds Terror", 'Julie" and this one, 'Cry Terror!", one columnist stated that they were on a roll, and took to calling them 'The Rolling Stones'. That was just about six years before a certain British musical group came on the scene.