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It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

One thing that made me feel good about the IMDb reviews of this film is that people do recognize what a top notch actor Glenn Ford was, though he was not in the upper echelons of the Cary Grants and the Laurence Oliviers. But, Ford was a steady, dependable actor, and this may well be his best performance.His co-star here was Donna Reed, and unfortunately she succumbed to the world of television sitcoms. Although this film was made concurrently with her sitcom, we often forget that, like Ford, Reed was a dependable actor in almost any type of role, whether it be Jimmy Stewart's wife in "It's A Wonderful Life" or Dean Martin's girlfriend in "The Caddy", or one of the four leads in "From Here To Eternity".I think one of the things that made this film so riveting, is that it looked at a kidnapping from multiple perspectives, more so than many films on the topic. And, it was actually better for the FBI not being called into the case.The supporting actors here do an excellent job, as well. In particular, Leslie Neilsen as the newspaper reporter, back before he had turned to comedy. Also of note was Robert Keith as the police chief. And, while the role was not particularly outstanding, Juano Hernandez was a welcome addition as the servant.In terms of what to criticize here? I can't think of a thing. Some of our reviewers felt it would have been more logical for the little boy who had been kidnapped to be killed. But that would have subjected the kidnappers to a federal felony likely resulting in the death penalty. While not illogical, it would be just as likely that they would not kill the boy when they realized they would not be getting the money.Highly recommended! And this is one of those films I never forgot after seeing it on one of the network movie nights of the early 1960s. You won't forget it either.

RANSOM! Premiered August 27th of 1956, it was both produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. The screenplay was written by Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum and was based on their teleplay "Fearful Decision" for the ABC network television show The U.S. Steel Hour (1954). I like that original title better, FEARFUL DECISION. Of the director Alex Segal little is known other than he mostly worked in television and aside from tonight's film he is best remembered for making NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS, ALL THE WAY HOME, JOY IN THE MORNING and winning an Emmy for his 1966 version of DEATH OF A SALESMAN. During the 1950's -- Hollywood's originality was on a decline and often filled with remakes of sequels. (not like today!) On the fast growing medium of television more risks were being taking and better stories were then sold to Hollywood to make feature films. Other examples of original TV productions becoming major motion pictures are MARTY, REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT, 12 ANGRY MEN, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, etc. Among tonight's character actors to look for are: Juanita Moore the sweet round faced African-American actress who plays Shirley. Juanita Moore would be Oscar nominated three years after this for her amazing performance in the 1959 version of IMITATION OF LIFE.Next look for Alexander Scourby who plays Dr. Paul Gorman. He was famous for his rich British accent that he used in voiceovers and narration, seldom did he mention the fact that he was really from Brooklyn, New York. Most of you will recognize the balding actor playing Chief Jim Brackett but you may not know his name, that's Robert Keith who in real life was the father of Brian Keith of TV's FAMILY AFFAIR fame. Juano Herandez plays Uncle Jesse Chapman that's always quoting the bible. Hernandez was one of the first "new style" black screen actors, who neither sang nor danced but played characters just as white actors did. He's amazing in a little southern drama called INTRUDER IN THE DUST. How many of you are fans of the 1980 comedy AIRPLANE? Well AIRPLANE made a major star out of Leslie Nielsen who has appeared in over 100 movies… RANSOM was his very first movie! Leslie plays Charlie Telfer is still working today at the age of 83! Nielsen was born in remote Saskatchewan, Canada the son of a Canadian Mountie. He studied acting at a school run by future Bonanza TV star Lorne Greene and studied dance under no less than Martha Graham! After RANSOM he appeared in the sci-fi classic FORBIDDEN PLANET, the romantic comedy TAMMY AND THE BACHELOR with Debbie Reynolds, then later the disaster epic POSEIDON ADVENTURE. After returning to television in POLICE SQUAD he found even more success making THE NAKED GUN films and there many spin offs. Wholesome Donna Reed was discovered to no surprise in a beauty pageant and with rare exceptions, she mostly portrayed sincere, wholesome types, loving wives and girlfriends. Her most famous role was playing Jimmy Stewart's sweetheart in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE but when she played a prostitute in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress of the year! Soon after this film she retired from the big screen and was a great success starring in her own TV series, THE DONNA REED SHOW which ran from 1958 through 1966. But the real star of tonight's film is the under rated Glenn Ford who was so good at drama, comedy and westerns… he made it look easy. Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford was also Canadian and didn't go on stage until the ripe old age of 4 in Tom Thumb's Wedding. After his family moved to California he excelled in theater and was put under contract by Columbia studios who kept him busy in lower budget B films until WWII came along and he joined the Marines. After the war he jump-starting his career in 1946 with the film noir classic GILDA, co-starring Rita Hayworth (they would become life long friends, neighbors and when she passed in 1987 he was one of her pallbearers.) While he insisted that he "never played anyone but himself on screen," Ford's range was quite extensive. He was equally effective as a tormented film noir hero (THE BIG HEAT & HUMAN DESIRE) as he was in light comedy (TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON & THE GAZEBO). Nearly half of his films were Westerns, many of which — THE DESPERADOES, THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE, 3:10 TO YUMA, COWBOY — were among the best and most successful examples of that highly specialized genre. He was also quite effective at conveying courage under pressure: While it was clear that his characters in such films as THE BLACKBOARD JUNGLE and RANSOM were terrified by the circumstances surrounding them, it was also obvious that they weren't about to let that terror get the better of them. In 1958, Ford was voted the number one male box-office attraction. He would go on to make more films and appear in several TV series but illness forced him to finally retire in the 1990s and he never got that Oscar for lifetime achievement that many, like myself believe he deserved. He passed away in 2006 but fortunately we still have most of his 106 titles preserved so that we can enjoy spending a little more time with this fine actor. In 1996 director Ron Howard remade this film with stars Mel Gibson and Rene Russo and it's a fine film, but the writers added several subplots, car chases and explosions. I think they just wanted to sell more tickets but this earlier version wanted to a story.

When I saw trailers for the Mel Gibson film "Ransom" in 1996, I had no idea that it was a remake of a 1956 movie of the same name. Thank God for TCM or else I never would have caught this elusive gem. I have no desire to see the remake, because the original is just tops with me. Yes, it was produced in the 1950s, so there are some very dated elements, but that does not deter from the suspense or involving premise.Glenn Ford, as Dave Stannard, gives one of his finest performances, compellingly realistic, while Donna Reed matches him with her warmth as his wife, Edith. They are a wealthy couple whose only child, Andy (Bobby Clark) is abducted from school one day and they later receive a ransom demand. The desperate parents want to do anything for the safe return of their son, but there is little they can do until the kidnappers make contact. While he can very well give into the demand, Stannard instead appears on television (the new and big medium of the 50s) to show that he does have money, but it will not be given to the abductors, rather it is the price on their heads if any harm befalls Andy.Donna Reed always likable, is outstanding, even if she does fall into the typical sexist "hysterical mother" so predominate of this era, crumbling to the floor, but she still gets you. So does Ford, for behind his steely determination is a distraught father who fears the worst for his son, wondering if there was any other way - the "what ifs" always plague parents when the suffering is not knowing. The ending, which is not something we would expect in this jaded world of today (nor in the case it was based on, Bobby Greenlease). This film is also a curiosity piece as an early appearance of Leslie Neilson, and there is the Hispanic butler, again playing in the confines of "understanding servant".But "Ransom!" is every bit a nail-biting thriller, one that will have the viewer on the edge of their seat, and no doubt resonate with any parent because of the issue that it addresses.And now I will ask the burning question - where is the DVD?

Not to be confused with Jay McInerny's Japan-set follow-up to his seminal 80's novel, "Bright Lights, Big City," or Mel Gibson and Ron Howard's stab at the same material, Glen Ford and company tackle the "title" and the kidnapping tale-of-woe with a heavy splash of sweat and hysteria. Sans modern pyrotechnics, the straight-forward narrative and sharp, clean black and white photography are welcome additions to any film library. Ford is a mass of twisted piano wire. Intense. Brooding. Furious. He rages against everyone in sight. Donna Reed spins from cool, detached resolve to loopy mush. The family doctor sends her to her bedroom loaded with tranquilizers. The kidnapper is never on screen--except for a burning cigarette. And maybe a shadow or two. The black actors are given more to do than usual. The butler has the run of the house and is a deacon. He wears his religion in full view of all the others. Fatherly, he hugs Ford in his hour of need. Could this be the first interracial embrace in movie history? Ford is a very affluent man and has a television anchored in his bookcase. I could see why Gibson was drawn to this material. Ford, jumping all over the place during a "live" broadcast, slaps his hand down over the Bible with such fervor, he almost flattens the tome into a leather pancake. Ouch. Finally, if the ransom gets payed, what are the odds the boy will be returned alive? Two to one. I know this because the police chief and the good book tells Ford so. Perfect.