IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.8K
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Two escaped killers take hostages and hide in a Nevada mining ghost town, knowing that an atom bomb is scheduled to be tested there the next morning.Two escaped killers take hostages and hide in a Nevada mining ghost town, knowing that an atom bomb is scheduled to be tested there the next morning.Two escaped killers take hostages and hide in a Nevada mining ghost town, knowing that an atom bomb is scheduled to be tested there the next morning.
Frank DeKova
- Dummy
- (as Frank de Kova)
Fred Aldrich
- Hunter - Driver of Car
- (uncredited)
Benny Burt
- Hunter
- (uncredited)
John Cliff
- Gas Station Attendant
- (uncredited)
Dick Crockett
- Air Force Helicopter Pilot
- (uncredited)
John Diggs
- Colonel at Control Station
- (uncredited)
William Forrest
- Colonel Wright
- (uncredited)
Fred Graham
- A.F. Captain in Helicopter
- (uncredited)
Karen Hale
- Nurse
- (uncredited)
Clark Howat
- Lieutenant at Control Station
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe escaped convict Bart Moore is played by Paul Kelly who himself spent 25 months during the late 1920s in California's San Quentin State Prison. He was convicted of manslaughter for the beating death of actor Ray Raymond, the first husband of actress Dorothy Mackaye, who was having an affair with Kelly and would later marry him. Kelly's next film after this one was "Duffy of San Quentin" (Duffy of San Quentin (1954)) where he plays the title role - the warden of the prison where he himself did time.
- GoofsThe five minute warning siren immediately started at peak, which is impossible because electromechanical sirens are essentially motors with blades attached, and no electric motor ever conceived of can start at maximum speed without first winding up to that speed from zero.
- Quotes
Larry Fleming: Well, Colonel, when you've seen one atom bomb, you've seen them all.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Skullduggery (1983)
Featured review
tense drama about escaped prisoners and their hostages
Dick Powell directed "Split Second," a B movie starring Stephen McNally, Jan Sterling, Alexis Smith, Richard Egan, and Keith Andes, about prisoners and their hostages at an atomic test site. McNally, meaner than dirt, escapes from prison with two cronies, one of whom has been badly wounded. At a gas station, they carjack Alexis Smith and her boyfriend. Before long, they have four hostages: Keith Andes, who plays a reporter, and Jan Sterling, who hitched a ride with him. They all wind up on an atomic bomb test site, and there's a test set for the next day. Since Smith's husband is a doctor, McNally calls him and threatens him with Smith's life so he will come and save the wounded escapee.
Seen with modern eyes, the friendship between McNally and his injured pal is something to behold. McNally is a cruel tough guy who becomes gentle when speaking to his friend, and he's determined not to leave him behind. Hmm...Smith plays a desperate, selfish society woman who will do anything - underline anything - to get McNally to take her along when he leaves, and in fact, they have a protracted time together in another room. She's a real piece of work. Richard Egan is her husband, who arrives to help the wounded prisoner.
Keith Andes was a handsome man whose major career was in television, and his beautiful singing voice and masculine presence brought him Broadway success as well, particularly costarring with Lucille Ball in "Wildcat." He does a good job here, as does Jan Sterling - they are two people caught in bad circumstances who happen to fall in love along the way. McNally is as nasty as they come - another fine performance of a low-life.
Dick Powell's direction has a sure hand, and the tension mounts as the film continues. A very good B movie, but not really noir as has been suggested.
Seen with modern eyes, the friendship between McNally and his injured pal is something to behold. McNally is a cruel tough guy who becomes gentle when speaking to his friend, and he's determined not to leave him behind. Hmm...Smith plays a desperate, selfish society woman who will do anything - underline anything - to get McNally to take her along when he leaves, and in fact, they have a protracted time together in another room. She's a real piece of work. Richard Egan is her husband, who arrives to help the wounded prisoner.
Keith Andes was a handsome man whose major career was in television, and his beautiful singing voice and masculine presence brought him Broadway success as well, particularly costarring with Lucille Ball in "Wildcat." He does a good job here, as does Jan Sterling - they are two people caught in bad circumstances who happen to fall in love along the way. McNally is as nasty as they come - another fine performance of a low-life.
Dick Powell's direction has a sure hand, and the tension mounts as the film continues. A very good B movie, but not really noir as has been suggested.
helpful•253
- blanche-2
- Jul 8, 2006
- How long is Split Second?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Explosion in Nevada
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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