The Trap (1959): Cast & Plot
The Trap is a 1959 crime thriller directed by Norman Panama, starring Richard Widmark as Ralph Anderson, Carl Benton Reid and Lee J. Cobb. It runs 1 hour 24 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 24m (84 min)
- Director
- Norman Panama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Heath Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Trap About?
The premise of The Trap without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Lawyer Ralph Anderson rides into the desert town of Tula as the emissary of mob boss Victor Massonetti, who needs the airstrip cleared for his exit. His arrival unsettles his estranged sheriff father, his alcoholic deputy brother Tip, and former lover Linda, now Tip’s wife. When a small gang seizes the town, tensions rise and power shifts dramatically.
The Trap Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- man killed
- father son conflict
- handcuffed man
- sweaty cloth
- driving through the desert
- man shot
- gunshot wound
- criminal entanglement
- dusty road
- brother brother relationship
- dysfunctional family
- domineering father
+38 more Show fewer
- dead body on the roadside
- drunk cop
- escape attempt
- unhappy wife
- mob lawyer
- brother brother conflict
- sweaty face
- coming home
- drunk
- ambush
- desert town
- dead body in the street
- casualties
- desert
- reward
- standoff
- father son relationship
- love triangle
- organized crime
- mobster
- deputy sheriff
- neo noir
- black smoke
- car crashes into airplane
- police car wreck
- father slaps adult son
- attempting to bribe a police officer
- fatal car accident
- suspect kills police officer
- american criminal
- impersonating a police officer
- loss of brother
- airfield
- airplane on fire
- exploding airplane
- mob boss
- airplane overturns on runway
- police arrest gone wrong
The Trap Cast & Characters
Richard Widmark leads the cast as Ralph Anderson, with Carl Benton Reid as Sheriff Lloyd Anderson and Lee J. Cobb as Victor Massonetti. Directed by Norman Panama; 20 actors are credited in all.
- Director Norman Panama
- Richard Widmark as Ralph Anderson
- Carl Benton Reid as Sheriff Lloyd Anderson
-
Lee J. Cobb as Victor Massonetti - Earl Holliman as Tippy Anderson
Also Starring in The Trap
· 16 more- Lorne Greene Davis
- Tina Louise Linda Anderson
- Richard Shannon Len Karger
- Carl Milletaire Eddie
- James Bell Clint Edwards
- John Indrisano Hood (uncredited)
- Walter Coy Second Fake Policeman (uncredited)
- Peter Baldwin Mellon
- Mike Mahoney Legitimate Officer (uncredited)
- Louis Quinn Archie Stoner (uncredited)
- Roger Creed Hood (uncredited)
- Karl Lukas Greenie (uncredited)
- Russell Saunders Hood (uncredited)
- Wayne Heffley Lou Brann (uncredited)
- Chuck Wassil First Fake Policeman
- Berel Firestone Radio Operator (uncredited)
More from Norman Panama
More films directed by Norman Panama: Barnaby and Me, I Will, I Will…For Now, Coffee, Tea or Me? and How to Commit Marriage.
The Trap Plot Summary
What happens in The Trap from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ralph Anderson, Richard Widmark, returns to his remote California hometown for the first time in many years, carrying the weight of a past he can’t fully escape. Now a practicing lawyer, he’s pulled into a family saga that never quite let him move on: his father, Lloyd Anderson, keeps a firm grip on the town’s affairs as sheriff, and his brother, Tippy Anderson, remains a restless force within the deputy ranks. Ralph’s reappearance dredges up old wounds—he was sent to reform school for stealing a car and took the blame for his brother’s crime—an act that forged a rift between himself and the two men who shaped his youth.
Full summary
The whole story of The Trap, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Trap?
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 is the main character who returns to his hometown?
Cars in The Trap
14 cars on screen, including the 1958 Chrysler New Yorker and the 1958 Plymouth Belvedere.
-
1958 Chrysler New Yorker Main role -
1958 Plymouth Belvedere Important role -
1958 Plymouth Plaza Important role -
1958 Plymouth Plaza Important role
The Trap Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “Die Falle von Tula” and “L'agguato”.
- Also known as
-
- Die Falle von Tula
- L'agguato
- Dans la souricière
- 함정
- La trampa
- Armadilha Sangrenta
- Ловушка
- 七里伏
Seen The Trap?
Movies Like The Trap
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Trap, The Trap and The Trap.
The Trap FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Trap, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Trap?
The Trap runs 1 hour 24 minutes (84 minutes).
When was The Trap released?
The Trap was released on January 28, 1959.
Who directed The Trap?
The Trap was directed by Norman Panama.
More films by Norman Panama Who is in the cast of The Trap?
The Trap stars Richard Widmark as Ralph Anderson, Carl Benton Reid as Sheriff Lloyd Anderson and Lee J. Cobb as Victor Massonetti, among 20 credited actors.
Does The Trap have a post-credit scene?
No. The Trap has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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