A Life in the Balance
“A killer with the cunning of a maniac. A little boy with the courage of a lion.”
Synopsis
A widower's young son leads the police to a killer of sinners in Mexico City.
Top Cast
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Ricardo Montalban
Antonio Gómez
Anne Bancroft
María Ibinia
Lee Marvin
The Killer
José Pérez
Paco Gómez
Rodolfo Acosta
Lt. Fernando
Carlos Múzquiz
Capt. Saldana
Jorge Treviño
Sergeant
José Torvay
Andrés Martínez
Eva Calvo
Carla Arlota
Fanny Schiller
Carmen Martínez
Tamara Garina
Doña Lucrecia
Pascual García Peña
Porter (as Pascual G. Pena)
Tony Carbajal
Pedro (as Antonio Carbajal)
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 1, 1955
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Rafael Portillo, Harry Horner
- Screenplay & Story
- Leo Townsend, Robert Presnell Jr.
- Original Score
- Raúl Lavista
- Original Title
- A Life in the Balance
- Country of Origin
- Mexico, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 14m
- Production Studios
- Tele-Voz S.A., Panoramic Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Rafael Portillo, Harry Horner
Leo Townsend, Robert Presnell Jr., Georges Simenon
Raúl Lavista
George Crone, George A. Gittens
Leonard Goldstein
Department Leadership Roster
Rafael Portillo
Director
Raúl Lavista
Original Music Composer
George Crone
Editor
George A. Gittens
Editor
Leo Townsend
Screenplay
Harry Horner
Director
Robert Presnell Jr.
Screenplay
Leonard Goldstein
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Life in the Balance.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Life in the Balance
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Life in the Balance about?
A widower's young son leads the police to a killer of sinners in Mexico City.
Who directed A Life in the Balance?
A Life in the Balance was directed by Rafael Portillo, Harry Horner.
Who stars in A Life in the Balance?
The principal cast of A Life in the Balance includes Ricardo Montalban, Anne Bancroft, Lee Marvin, José Pérez, Rodolfo Acosta.
When was A Life in the Balance released and how long is it?
A Life in the Balance was released in 1955 with a total runtime of 1h 14m.
Who composed the musical score for A Life in the Balance?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Life in the Balance was composed by Raúl Lavista.
Is A Life in the Balance based on a book or true story?
A Life in the Balance is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Georges Simenon".