TWELVE HOURS TO KILL (1960)

Twelve Hours to Kill is an unimaginative premise hampered by a tired script and a poorly directed lead actor providing eighty-three minutes to kill. This might have played better a decade earlier. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, it is a bit close to a B-movie, what with a few stalwart B-actors involved. More than likely it is due to the director, Edward L. Cahn, infamously known for his mediocre films. It is written by Jerry Sohl, based on a 1959 Saturday Evening Post story by Richard G. Stern, Set Up for Murder. The prolific Paul Dunlap handled the music score adequately.

The Greek actor, Nico Minardos, in his first lead role, provides no spark to the film given his lack of direction or experience. He plays an immigrant amazed after arriving in America. Nico witnesses a mob hit outside his apartment and then hesitantly reports it to the police. They find it hard to convince him that he could be just as dead in America as in Greece. No way! Not making a solid commitment as to what to do, he flees to a small town by train and finds himself offering a seat to Barbara Eden whose destination is the same, her hometown. She is the most optimistic and trusting person—nothing phases her—sounding a lot like the Jeanne some will dream about in the near future. Dramas were not the light comedienne's strong suit and her character also stretches believability. 

Both leave the train hand in hand as if on their first date. All googly-eyed. She may find out too late about his lack of commitment. Also waiting at the depot are a pair of thugs, Richard Reeves and Gavin MacLeod. The latter seemingly lifted from a comedy skit while MacLeod, as was often the case early in his career, is a heartless gangster. Eden drives an adorable 1959 Simca Aronde Océane. The standout element in this movie. Spotting the suspicious duo, Minardos asks for a ride. She is happy to do so for her favorite total stranger. She quickly learns of his "death dilemma" and being the take-charge kind of person she is, tries to help. Not so much. 

Not surprisingly, the mobsters find Eden home alone and, right out of the Hollywood playbook, they get rough with her. After this encounter, viewers never see her again but assume a reuniting with her only love, the Simca ...er...Minardos. The movie moseys along as two detectives, Grant Richards and Russ Conway, try to locate the Greek—one with no interest in his safety. There is a soft closing as the "ever kind and wise" Art Baker, the police captain, exposes the double-crossing cop and gives MacLeod a choice before going to jail: one will kill him en route. He chooses wisely.