Question 1

How was the volcano in The Devil at 4 O'Clock created?

Accepted Answer

The volcano was built from scratch on farmland outside Fallbrook, California. Each shot required packing hundreds of pounds of explosives for a carefully-orchestrated 'eruption' filmed from a helicopter. One eruption nearly destroyed the chopper and burned off the cameraman's eyebrows.

Question 2

What scheduling conflict occurred between Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra?

Accepted Answer

Tracy, who was not well, could only work in the mornings. Sinatra would only work in the afternoons, spending mornings flying between islands campaigning for John F. Kennedy. They never overlapped on set.

Question 3

What is the meaning behind the film's title?

Accepted Answer

The title derives from a proverb: 'It is hard for a man to be brave when he knows he is going to meet the devil at four o'clock.' In the story, rescuers must return by 4:00 PM, the deadline for the last schooner departing the island.

Question 4

How much did The Devil at 4 O'Clock cost to produce?

Accepted Answer

At a negative cost of over $5.7 million, it was the most expensive movie Columbia Pictures had made up to that date.

Question 5

What unusual stand-in was used for Frank Sinatra during filming?

Accepted Answer

A broomstick was used as Sinatra's stand-in during his absences, with the brush end representing his head. Spencer Tracy acted opposite it while a script girl read Sinatra's lines.

The Devil at 4 O'Clock

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