Six Hours to Live

1932 film

October 16, 1932 (1932-10-16)

Running time

72 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Six Hours to Live is a 1932 American pre-Code science fiction drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Warner Baxter, Miriam Jordan and John Boles.^[1] It is based on the story "Auf Weidersehen" by Gordon Morris and Morton Barteaux.

Plot

Paul Onslow, an ambassador from a small mythical country, stands in the way of an international trade agreement because it would be ruinous for his nation. He receives several threats and on the eve of the final vote he is murdered. A visiting scientist who has invented a special ray restores Onslow to life for six hours. Rather than take revenge on his killer, Onslow devotes his short reprieve to good deeds, including convincing his fiancee to forget him and marry another man; casting his vote against the trade agreement; and destroying the scientist's machine.

Cast

Warner Baxter as Capt. Paul Onslow
Miriam Jordan as Baroness Valerie von Sturm
John Boles as Karl Kranz
George F. Marion as Prof. Otto Bauer
Halliwell Hobbes as Baron Emil von Sturm
Irene Ware as The Prostitute
Beryl Mercer as The Widow
Edward McWade as Ivan
John Davidson as Kellner
Edwin Maxwell as Police Commissioner
Dewey Robinson as Blucher
Eugenie Besserer as The Marquisa
Marilyn Harris as Flower Girl
Claude King as Conference Chairman
Michael Mark as Townsman in Window
Torben Meyer as Sturges - Butler
John Reinhardt as Masher
Bodil Rosing as Greta
Michael Visaroff as Monsieur Thereux
Wilhelm von Brincken as Reporter
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski as Flosky

Reception

Critic Mordaunt Hall wrote in the New York Times, "Fantastic as is the theme of 'Six Hours to Live,' William Dieterle's gifted direction and the capable performances of the principals cause it to be an unusually compelling piece of work. It may disappoint those who look for a final flash of the hero and heroine in each other's arms, but it will please others who want imagination and subtlety in screen entertainment."^[2]

Harrison's Reports wrote: "A treat awaits the picture-going public, at least such of it as appreciates art, for the industry has not yet produced the equal of it. So thrillingly fascinating it is. It is not due so much to the story as it is to the direction, and naturally to the acting. Director Dieterle's artistry has imparted delicate shadings to the mood."^[3]

References

^ Solomon p.336
^ "One Dead Man Who Tells Some Tales: 'Six Hours to Live' Is Decidedly Original," by Mordaunt Hall. New York Times. 30 Oct 1932: X5.
^ "'Six Hours to Live' With Warner Baxter." Harrison's Reports. Oct. 22, 1932, p. 171.