Arson for Hire
“THE FLAMING SHOCKER ABOUT CRIME'S DEADLIEST RACKET!”
Synopsis
Johnny Broderick, arson squad investigator, and his assistant, Ben Howard,, investigate a warehouse fire and find evidence of arson. Lawyer William Yarbo is behind the series of incendiary fires that have been plaguing the city. Keely Hariss, an actress, inherited the warehouse from her father. Yabro calls on her and says that he and her father had heavily insured the building and planned to burn it and collect, and also tells her she must accept half of the insurance money or he will see that she is blamed for the arson. "Pop" Bergen, the father of Marily Bergen, is the torch man hired by Yarbo, and he perishes in one of the conflagrations. Yarbo learns that Keely is cooperating with Broderick and he enters the movie studio where she is working, determined to kill her. Written By Les Adams
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Steve Brodie
Arson Squad Inspector John "Johnny" Broderick
Lyn Thomas
Keely Harris
Tom Hubbard
Ben Howard, Broderick's Assistant
Jason Johnson
William Yarbo
Frank J. Scannell
Pop Bergen
Wendy Wilde
Marilyn 'Marilee' Bergen
John Frederick
Clete, the Photographer
Corinne Cole
Cindy, the Secretary
Antony Carbone
Foxy Gilbert
Lyn Osborn
Jim, the Fireman
Robert Riordan
Fire Chief Boswell
Walter Reed
Chief Hollister
Reed Howes
Barney, the Bartender
Lester Dorr
Cab Dispatcher
Frank Richards
Man Making Phone Calls
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 1, 1959
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Thor L. Brooks
- Screenplay & Story
- Tom Hubbard
- Original Title
- Arson for Hire
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 7m
- Production Studios
- William F. Broidy Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Thor L. Brooks
Tom Hubbard
William Margulies
Department Leadership Roster
Thor L. Brooks
Director
William Margulies
Director of Photography
Tom Hubbard
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Arson for Hire.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Arson for Hire.
list8
Film Noir
Classic-era film noir, 1940 to 1959.
Similar Titles to Arson for Hire
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.3
5.3
6.7
7.0
5.6
6.0
6.3
5.0
7.0
7.4
6.2
5.3
7.5
5.7
More Like Arson for Hire
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arson for Hire
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Arson for Hire about?
Johnny Broderick, arson squad investigator, and his assistant, Ben Howard,, investigate a warehouse fire and find evidence of arson. Lawyer William Yarbo is behind the series of incendiary fires that have been plaguing the city. Keely Hariss, an actress, inherited the warehouse from her father. Yabro calls on her and says that he and her father had heavily insured the building and planned to burn it and collect, and also tells her she must accept half of the insurance money or he will see that she is blamed for the arson. "Pop" Bergen, the father of Marily Bergen, is the torch man hired by Yarbo, and he perishes in one of the conflagrations. Yarbo learns that Keely is cooperating with Broderick and he enters the movie studio where she is working, determined to kill her. Written By Les Adams
Who directed Arson for Hire?
Arson for Hire was directed by Thor L. Brooks.
Who stars in Arson for Hire?
The principal cast of Arson for Hire includes Steve Brodie, Lyn Thomas, Tom Hubbard, Jason Johnson, Frank J. Scannell.
When was Arson for Hire released and how long is it?
Arson for Hire was released in 1959 with a total runtime of 1h 7m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Arson for Hire?
Arson for Hire holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).