Details

Release year: 1953

Storyline

Two friends pick up a psychopathic escaped convict who tells them that he intends to murder them when the ride is over.

Top credits

Directors

Ida Lupino

Writers

Cast

Edmond O'Brien — Roy Collins
Frank Lovejoy — Gilbert Bowen
William Talman — Emmett Myers
José Torvay — Capt. Alvarado

See all 34 credits →

Did you know

• Based upon an incident that happened in California in the early 1950s. A man named Billy Cook murdered a family of five, including three children, then killed a traveling salesman. He kidnapped two hunters and took them across the border into Mexico, intending to kill them too. However, before he could do that, he was captured by Mexican police and subsequently extradited to the US, where he was tried for the murders, convicted, and executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin on December 12, 1952.

• In an interview, William Talman recalled an incident that happened shortly after the release of this film, in which he gave a chilling portrayal of escaped murderer and serial killer Emmett Meyers. He was driving his convertible in Los Angeles with the top down, and he stopped at a red light. Another driver in a convertible who was stopped next to him stared at him for a few seconds, then said, "You're the hitchhiker, right?" Talman nodded, indicating that he was. The other driver got out of his car, went over to Talman's car and slapped him across the face, then got back in his car and drove off. In recalling the story, Talman said, "You know, I never won an Academy Award, but I guess that was about as close as I ever will come to one."

• The movie's poster was listed as #23 of "The 25 Best Movie Posters Ever" by Premiere.