The Devil at 4 O'Clock

1961
PG
2h 6m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

2.7K

YOUR RATING

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1 Video

37 Photos

Disaster Adventure Drama Thriller

A crusty, eccentric priest recruits three reluctant convicts to help him rescue a children's leper colony from a Pacific island menaced by a smoldering volcano.A crusty, eccentric priest recruits three reluctant convicts to help him rescue a children's leper colony from a Pacific island menaced by a smoldering volcano.A crusty, eccentric priest recruits three reluctant convicts to help him rescue a children's leper colony from a Pacific island menaced by a smoldering volcano.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

2.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Jacques
(as Jean Pierre Aumont)

Grégoire Aslan

Marcel
(as Gregoire Aslan)

Alexander Scourby

The Governor

BarBara Luna

Camille
(as Barbara Luna)

Cathy Lewis

Matron

Bernie Hamilton

Charlie

Martin Brandt

Doctor Wexler

Louis Merrill

Aristide Giraud
(as Lou Merrill)

Marcel Dalio

Gaston

Thomas H. Middleton

Paul, Co-pilot

Ann Duggan

Clarisse

Louis Mercier

Corporal

Michèle Montau

Margot
(as Michele Montau)

Eugene Borden

Citizen
(uncredited)

Earl D'Eon

Radio Operator
(uncredited)

Director
- Mervyn LeRoy
Writers
- Liam O'Brien
- Max Catto
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The volcano in this film was built from scratch on farmland outside Fallbrook, California. Each shot required packing with hundreds of pounds of explosives and a carefully-orchestrated "eruption" to be filmed by the cameraman seated on the front skids of a helicopter. One eruption went off a little early and nearly took out the chopper, burning off the cameraman's eyebrows and some of his hair. Because the eruptions looked so good, this ersatz volcano provided stock footage for other films, commercials, etc., for decades.

Goofs
After the island explodes, the sea is perfectly calm. A huge eruption like that would have produced a huge tsunami.

Quotes
Charlie: I was a pretty good thief in my time.
Father Matthew Doonan: I believe that.
Charlie: It's too late. Can't you get out now?
Father Matthew Doonan: It's never too late to change.
Charlie: My mother, that's what she used to say, "It's never too late."
Father Matthew Doonan: She was right.
Charlie: She kept after me - kept tellin' me - there was another thief once dyin' on the cross right next to Christ.
Father Matthew Doonan: The Good Thief.
Charlie: That's what she called him.
Father Matthew Doonan: He didn't chicken out. He just got smart and at the very last moment, he stole Heaven.
Charlie: That's pretty good stealin', huh?

Connections
Edited from When Worlds Collide (1951)

User reviews45

Review

Featured review

8/10

Affirmation of religion with a great script and photography

This film anticipates the "Dirty Dozen" film formula with a great story that affirms one's faith in God and the true missionary spirit of Catholic priests who went to various parts of the world to help the poor and the wretched of the earth at great personal sacrifice.

Yet the greatness of the film is not about the missionary zeal of Catholic priests but more about faith in God--the loss of faith and the process of regaining it. It is not an action film, it is a spiritual journey where convicts turn religious by observing selfless actions of others. It brings to mind Pearl S. Buck's "Satan never sleeps". The choice of the title "Devil at 4 O'clock" is unfortunate as the film is not about any devil--there is only a volcanic eruption at that time.

Even if you choose to discount the story, the film is admirable for its earthquake and volcano/lava flow sequences. I wonder how they were able to splice in realistic lava scenes as well as scenes of a small plane flying in close proximity to a volcano in full fury.

Along with "The Seventh Cross" and "Bad Day at Black Rock" this film ranks high as a Spencer Tracy film. He carries the film on his shoulders with good support from Frank Sinatra and Gregoire Aslan. Joseph Biroc's camerawork and Mervyl Leroy's decision to direct this film are commendable. If you have not seen the film see it, it will uplift your spirits and your faith in human values.