Twelve Hours by the Clock

Twelve Hours by the Clock (1959) follows three recently escaped convicts who have just twelve hours to secure money and false papers before their chance to flee on a waiting ship slips away. As they navigate a bustling port town, shifting loyalties, romantic entanglements, and desperate schemes complicate their tight deadline. This thriller drama blends tense timing and noir-inflected escape dynamics in a terse study of desperation, risk, and fleeting freedom.

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  This one stands apart [from other Krimis] with its quiet, almost sterile tragedy and a strong focus on the psychological depths of its characters. Director Géza Radványi largely avoids sensational action, opting instead for intense, at times prosaic dialogue and a dense contrasting atmosphere. … This surely is one of the better Krimis or “Films Policiers”, as the French would say. Recommended.