The Houston Story | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | William Castle |
Screenplay by | James B. Gordon |
Story by | James B. Gordon |
Produced by | Sam Katzman |
Starring | Gene Barry Barbara Hale Edward Arnold |
Cinematography | Henry Freulich |
Edited by | Edwin H. Bryant |
Production company | Clover Productions |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 81 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Houston Story is a 1956 crime film noir directed by William Castle starring Gene Barry, Barbara Hale and Edward Arnold.[1]
The film went through a major casting change while in production on location in Houston. Originally set for the lead role was acclaimed character actor Lee J. Cobb. But Cobb suffered a heart attack after filming an exhausting fight sequence, in part due to the August heat in Texas, where the scene was shot. Cobb was not able to work for the three more days of location scenes on the schedule. Director William Castle, who resembled Cobb, doubled for him in these scenes. Ten weeks later Cobb had recovered enough to return to work. However he then suffered another heart attack and had to be replaced.[2]
Cobb's part had to be recast and according to Castle Katzman "insisted on a relatively new actor in pictures - Gene Barry, a fine actor, but as unlike Lee J. Cobb as anyone could be."[3][2]
Castle says footage of himself and Cobb remains in the final film.[2]
Frank Duncan (Barry), a shrewd oil driller from Galveston, Texas, conceives a plan to sneakily siphon millions of dollars' worth of oil from the oil fields and sell it as his own. He goes through nightclub singer Zoe Crane (Hale) to insinuate himself with a Houston mobster, Paul Atlas (Arnold) to get financing for his scheme.
Atlas tells right-hand man Gordon Shay privately that he plans to double-cross Duncan as soon as the money's in hand. Chris Barker, a gunman, robs Duncan and intends to murder him, but Duncan is able to push Barker off an oil rig to his death.
Duncan tries to make a getaway with the help of true-blue girlfriend Madge, but the hard-hearted Zoe steals his money and lies to Madge that Duncan has betrayed her. A pair of Atlas's thugs snatch Zoe, take her money and toss her from a moving car. Shay is killed, but before Duncan can get away, the cops close in on him and he's forced to surrender.