Split Second

Split Second is a 1953 American film noir thriller directed by Dick Powell about escaped convicts and their hostages holed up in a ghost town, unaware of the grave danger they are in. It features Stephen McNally, Alexis Smith, Jan Sterling, and Keith Andes. It was the only film put into production by the consortium that took over RKO Pictures in late 1952 before previous owner Howard Hughes resumed control of the company. Location shooting took place in the Mojave Desert. Plot Armored car robbers Sam Hurley and Bart Moore escape from a Carson City prison, although Moore is shot in the stomach in the breakout. Sam drives to a gas station to steal a car, killing the attendant when he tries to disarm Hurley. They meet up with a confederate, a mute named "Dummy", and hide out in a ghost town on the Nevada Proving Ground. Along the way, they pick up several hostages, Kay Garven and her lover Arthur Ashton, newspaper reporter Larry Fleming, out-of-work dancer Dorothy "Dottie" Vail, and the town's sole resident, Asa Tremaine. Sam calls Kay's husband, Neal, a doctor, and threatens to kill Kay if he does not come and help Bart. Kay doubts he will come, as she is divorcing him. Larry warns the gangsters that the government is going to conduct an atomic bomb test nearby the next morning, but Sam plans to leave before then, though he leaves it unclear whether he plans to do with the hostages. When Arthur tries to be a hero, Sam kills him without a qualm. Despite this, Kay uses her feminine wiles to try to persuade Sam to take her with him. To Kay's surprise, Neal still loves her enough to show up. He successfully operates on Bart, but warns Sam that moving his friend too soon will kill him. Sam waits as long as possible to give Bart time to recuperate.