Five Against the House

Guy Madison Director: Phil Karlson Phil Karlson

Overview

In this film noir, five college students laughingly devise a perfect plan for robbing a casino in Reno. At first they do it just to pass the time, but one of them is deeply in debt and becoming increasingly distraught about it. He successfully cajoles his peers into carrying through with their plans.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/05/2013
UPC:	0043396422957
Original Release:	1955
Rating:	NR
Source:	Sony Mod
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sales rank:	37,447

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Guy Madison	Al Mercer
Kim Novak	Kay Greylek
Brian Keith	Brick
Alvy Moore	Roy
William Conrad	Eric Berg
Kerwin Mathews	Ronnie
Jean Willes	Virginia
John Zaremba	Robert Fenton
George Brand	Jack Roper
Mark Hanna	Brad Lacey
Carroll McComas	Mrs. Valent
Hugh Sanders	Pat Winters
Jack Diamond	Francis Spieglebauer

Technical Credits

John Barnwell

William Bowers

Stirling Silliphant

Phil Karlson	Director
John Barnwell	Screenwriter
William Bowers	Screenwriter
George Duning	Score Composer
Jean Louis	Costumes/Costume Designer
Robert A. Peterson	Art Director
Stirling Silliphant	Producer,Screenwriter
Morris W. Stoloff	Musical Direction/Supervision
Jerome Thoms	Editor
Frank A. Tuttle	Set Decoration/Design
Lester White	Cinematographer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- 5 Against the House
1. Chapter 1 [10:11]
2. Chapter 2 [9:51]
3. Chapter 3 [10:39]
4. Chapter 4 [9:35]
5. Chapter 5 [10:22]
6. Chapter 6 [8:55]
7. Chapter 7 [9:47]
8. Chapter 8 [13:47]

Menu

Disc #1 -- 5 Against the House
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Editorial Reviews

A little-known but enjoyable caper film, Five Against the House also has a bit of a film noir feeling to it -- which probably helps to explain why it's not better known. Had it either gone further in the direction of a lighthearted heist film or further in the direction of gritty, psychological noir tale, it may or may not have been a better film, but it would definitely have been easier to peg. Still, its sometimes-uneasy mixture of these genres is part of what gives it a special character. Five takes its time revving up; the first half hour is a lot of exposition, not always as well handled by its trio of screenwriters and director Phil Karlson as might be desired. But once it gets in gear, Five flies by with only a few missteps here and there. And while the caper is the hook, Five also gives enough flesh to its characters to make it an interesting study of some unlikely friends. Kim Novak is the big name here (although she was a nobody at the time of the film's release), and she turns in a fine performance. Guy Madison, Alvy Moore and Kerwin Mathews all are good as well, but it's Brian Keith whose work is the most interesting.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler