The Glass Wall
| The Glass Wall | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Maxwell Shane |
| Produced by | Ivan Tors |
| Screenplay by | Maxwell Shane Ivan Tors |
| Starring |
Vittorio Gassman Gloria Grahame |
| Music by | Leith Stevens |
| Cinematography | Joseph F. Biroc |
| Edited by | Stanley Frazen Herbert L. Strock |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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82 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Glass Wall is a 1953 American black-and-white drama film noir directed by Maxwell Shane and starring Vittorio Gassman and Gloria Grahame. The film was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The title refers to the design of the tower of United Nations headquarters in New York.
It tied with two other films for the Golden Leopard, the top prize at the Locarno International Film Festival, in 1953.
After the end of World War II, Peter Kuban (Vittorio Gassman), a Hungarian displaced person and survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, stows away on a ship bound for New York City. However, he is spotted and held for the authorities. When they arrive, he claims that he qualifies for entry under an exception for those who helped Allied soldiers during the war, but all he knows about the paratrooper he hid from the enemy is that his name is Tom and he plays clarinet in a jazz band in New York City's Times Square.The immigration authorities led by Inspector Bailey say that without better documentation he must be sent back to Europe.
He jumps off the ship, breaking some ribs, and starts searching for Tom. He encounters an unemployed ex-factory worker named Maggie Summers (Gloria Grahame). When she steals a coat in a restaurant, Peter helps her elude the police. They go to her apartment, where she tends his injury as best she can and learns his story. When her landlady, Mrs. Hinckley, threatens to evict her for being behind on her rent, Peter gives her all the money he has. Eddie Hinckley, the landlady's son, barges in and tries to get amorous with Maggie. Peter bursts out of hiding and starts fighting him, but gets the worst of it. Maggie knocks Eddie out with a chair and flees with Peter. The Hinckleys notify the police. Meanwhile, Tom sees Peter's picture on the front page of a newspaper. He wants to go to the immigration department, but his girlfriend Nancy persuades him to attend an important audition instead. Tom impresses band leader Jack Teagarden, but leaves abruptly to try to help Peter.
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Wikipedia