The Rack (1956): Cast & Plot
The Rack is a 1956 war drama directed by Arnold Laven, starring Paul Newman as Capt. Edward W. Hall, Jr., Walter Pidgeon and Robert Burton. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Arnold Laven
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Rack About?
The premise of The Rack without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Paul Newman shines in his role as Army Captain Edward Hall, who returns to America after two years in a Korean War prison camp. There he was forced to help the Chinese persuade fellow POWs that their cause was unjust. Back home, Hall is charged with enemy collaboration, forcing him to confront the limits of loyalty in the camp’s nightmare.
The Rack Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- korean war
- war hero
- based on tv movie
- brainwashing
- court martial
- captain the military rank
- colonel the military rank
- major the military rank
- pow prisoner of war
- brother in law sister in law relationship
- name calling
- reference to dachau the concentration camp
+38 more Show fewer
- drunkenness
- hiccups
- looking at oneself in a mirror
- lieutenant colonel the military rank
- military hospital
- u.s. soldier
- u.s. air force
- war wound
- sarcasm
- military law
- solitary confinement
- dead son
- dead husband
- isolation
- reference to a 12 year old boy
- crying man
- loneliness
- unloving father
- military uniform
- father son embrace
- betrayal
- collaboration with the enemy
- regret
- reference to god
- airfield
- post war life
- psychological drama
- courtroom drama
- chamber drama
- family drama
- legal drama
- melodrama
- ensemble drama
- social commentary
- travis air force base
- returning war hero
- hotel room
- psychiatrist
The Rack Cast & Characters
Paul Newman leads the cast as Capt. Edward W. Hall, Jr., with Walter Pidgeon as Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. and Robert Burton as Col. Ira Hansen. Directed by Arnold Laven; 43 actors are credited in all.
- Director Arnold Laven
-
Paul Newman as Capt. Edward W. Hall, Jr. -
Walter Pidgeon as Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. - Robert Burton as Col. Ira Hansen
-
Cloris Leachman as Caroline
Also Starring in The Rack
· 39 more- Anne Francis Aggie Hall
- Fay Roope Col. Dudley Smith
- Wendell Corey Maj. Sam Moulton
- Barry Atwater Maj. Byron Phillips
- Lee Marvin Capt. John R. Miller
- Edmond O'Brien Lt. Col. Frank Wasnick
- Trevor Bardette Court President
- Robert Blake Italian Soldier
- George Ford Courtroom Spectator
- George DeNormand Courtroom Spectator
- Robert Haines Stenotype Operator
- James Best Millard Chilson Cassidy
- Charles Evans General
- Shep Houghton Judge
- Dick Cherney Judge
- Robert F. Simon Law Officer
Show all 43 cast members Show fewer cast members
- James Anderson Skinny
- Raoul Freeman Courtroom Spectator
- Charles Fogel Family Member
- Benjie Bancroft Family Member
- Adam Williams Sgt. Otto Pahnke
- Don Anderson Courtroom Spectator
- Sidney Clute Hotel Clerk
- Tex Holden Courtroom Spectator
- Michael Dugan Military Policeman
- Art Lewis Military Policeman
- Roy Damron Family Member
- Eve McVeagh Woman at Airfield
- Harry Denny Courtroom Spectator
- Willa Pearl Curtis Mother
- Bobby Johnson Waiter
- Kathleen Mulqueen Party Guest
- Kay English Party Guest
- Elzie Emanuel Blind Soldier
- David Bair Student
- John Carlyle Desk Sergeant
- Jean Hartelle Italian Father
- Darren Dublin Cab Driver
- Virginia Eiler Nurse
More from Arnold Laven
More films directed by Arnold Laven: Life, Liberty and Pursuit on the Planet of the Apes, Back to the Planet of the Apes, Sam Whiskey and Rough Night in Jericho.
The Rack Plot Summary
What happens in The Rack from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Captain Edward W. Hall, Jr. [Paul Newman] returns home to a US Army post in San Francisco after surviving two years in a Korean prisoner-of-war camp. His father, Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. [Walter Pidgeon], is glad to have his son back but remains shaken by the death of his other son, Pete. Pete’s widow, Aggie Hall, [Anne Francis] confides to her friend Caroline [Cloris Leachman] that being around her brother-in-law is painful because it constantly reminds her of Pete. A welcome-home moment is tempered by unspoken worries, and the family’s surface harmony hides a growing tension about the past and what may come next.
Full summary
The whole story of The Rack, scene by scene
The Rack Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Rack.
How Well Do You Know The Rack?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays the returning Captain Edward W. Hall, Jr.?
Cars in The Rack
3 cars on screen, including the 1952 Ford Mainline and the unknown.
-
1952 Ford Mainline Minor role -
unknown Minor role -
1950 Cadillac Ambulance Background role
The Rack Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Traidor a su patria” and “Supplizio - Il traditore del Campo 5”.
- Also known as
-
- Traidor a su patria
- Supplizio - Il traditore del Campo 5
- Le supplice des aveux
- Deus é Meu Juiz
- 더 랙
- Дыба
- Paluu
- Återkomsten
- Anklage: Hochverrat
Seen The Rack?
Movies Like The Rack
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Hook, Men in War and Captain Newman, M.D..
The Rack FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Rack, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Rack?
The Rack runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was The Rack released?
The Rack was released on November 2, 1956.
Who directed The Rack?
The Rack was directed by Arnold Laven.
More films by Arnold Laven Who is in the cast of The Rack?
The Rack stars Paul Newman as Capt. Edward W. Hall, Jr., Walter Pidgeon as Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. and Robert Burton as Col. Ira Hansen, among 43 credited actors.
Does The Rack have a post-credit scene?
No. The Rack has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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