Edge of Eternity

Edge of Eternity

Year: 1959

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Don Siegel

ThrillerCrimeMystery

Deputy sheriff Les Martin, aided by socialite Janice Kendon and barkeeper Scott O’Brien, is assigned to investigate three gruesome murders that occurred in and around the Grand Canyon. As his probe zeroes in on the killer, the murderer kidnaps Janice, prompting a high‑speed chase by car and helicopter that culminates on a miner’s suspended bucket, dangling a mile above the canyon floor.

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Timeline & Setting – Edge of Eternity (1959)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Edge of Eternity (1959). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Grand Canyon, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada

Set in the rugged Southwest, the Grand Canyon area provides the film's tense backdrop with cliffside danger and deep chasms that shape the chase. The action also brushes Las Vegas, hinting at a wider criminal plot linked to a closed mine and a remote mining company. The landscape and frontier mood anchor the mystery, contrasting wealth and danger.

🏜️ Desert 🗺️ Canyon 🎰 Gambling

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:34

Main Characters – Edge of Eternity (1959)

Meet the key characters of Edge of Eternity (1959), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Les Martin (Cornel Wilde)

A diligent deputy sheriff who remains skeptical of Elios tall tales yet relentless in pursuing the murders. He pieces together clues and works with Janice to expose the theft connected to the mining operation. Courageous and steady, he acts as the moral center when danger rises.

🕵️ Detective 🧭 Persistent ⚖️ Justice-minded

Janice Kendon (Victoria Shaw)

A sharp and determined woman who identifies the jacket from a New York tailor and drives the investigation forward. She follows disquieting leads and refuses to back down when the danger escalates. Her presence keeps the pursuit grounded in real world stakes.

🧭 Resourceful 🕵️ Insightful 🛡️ Courageous

Scotty O'Brien (Mickey Shaughnessy)

Greedy and ruthless, he exploits the mining scheme for personal gain. He kills Bob Kendon and holds Janice hostage, believing he can slip away in a private plane. His calculated brutality drives the film toward its deadly finale.

💎 Greedy 🔫 Violent 🛫 Calculating

Bob Kendon (Rian Garrick)

Janices wealthy brother whose lavish lifestyle is disturbed by the mining plot. His involvement highlights the contrast between wealth and danger in the frontier town. He is killed by OBrien when he realizes the truth.

💰 Wealth 🗡️ Betrayal

Eli Jones (Tom Fadden)

An old prospector whose reputation for tall tales makes him a dubious informant. He provides a key early clue but falls victim to the killer, underscoring the danger of trusting appearances. His presence foreshadows the danger and unpredictability of the case.

🗺️ Tales 🧭 Misinformation 🕯️ Mystery

Jim Kendon (Alexander Lockwood)

A Kendon family member who appears in the investigation, offering support and context. He helps connect the family to the unfolding crime and supports the investigators in their pursuit of the truth.

👨‍👦 Family 🧭 Ally

Sheriff Edwards (Edgar Buchanan)

The local lawman who partners with Les Martin in piecing together the case. He represents the authority that must navigate complex motives and dangerous players to bring the culprit to justice.

👮 Law 🛡️ Authority

Bill Ward (Jack Elam)

An attacker involved in the early tense moment that sends the victim over the canyon rim. His role is pivotal to the incident that triggers the investigation and sets the tone for the danger ahead.

💥 Attacker 🕵️ Mysterious

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:34

Major Themes – Edge of Eternity (1959)

Explore the central themes of Edge of Eternity (1959), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed drives the criminal plot, with Scotty OBrien and the mining racket turning wealth into a motive for murder and coercion. The pursuit of gold exposes a willingness to kill for profit and power. The film uses the lure of money to escalate danger and moral compromise.

🔎 Investigation

Les Martin and Janice Kendon piece together clues like the jacket from a New York tailor to uncover the truth behind the murders. Elis tall tales complicate trust, forcing the investigators to separate fact from fiction. The climax tests their detective resolve as they close in on the killer.

🏜️ Frontier peril

The Southwest landscape shapes the narrative as a harsh frontier where danger hides in open spaces and high elevations. The canyon setting creates spectacular peril during the cable car showdown and chase. Geography becomes a key character in the struggle for survival.

⚖️ Justice under pressure

Authority figures like Sheriff Edwards and Les Martin must navigate a web of deception to deliver justice. The truth emerges gradually through careful observation and risky confrontations. The final confrontation tests the balance between law and vengeance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:34

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Rural Crime Thrillers like Edge of Eternity

Law enforcement unravels a mystery in a stark, isolated landscape.If you liked the tense investigation in the Grand Canyon in Edge of Eternity, explore more movies like it. These films feature similar stories of murder and mystery set against remote backdrops, where the setting intensifies the danger and the chase.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread often follow a straightforward procedural path: a crime is discovered in a remote location, a dedicated investigator follows the clues, leading to a high-stakes confrontation. The journey leverages the isolation and harsh beauty of the setting to create a palpable sense of danger and suspense.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on crime-solving in non-urban environments, a tense and serious tone, and the way the setting contributes directly to the plot's tension and mood. They deliver a specific kind of thriller experience grounded in isolated landscapes.

High-Stakes Rescue Movies like Edge of Eternity

A relentless pursuit to save a hostage against a looming deadline.Fans of the daring helicopter and cable car chase in Edge of Eternity will enjoy these similar movies. Discover thrilling stories featuring race-against-time rescues, dangerous pursuits, and final confrontations where heroes must save a hostage from a villain.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a clear inciting incident—a kidnapping—that triggers a linear, fast-paced pursuit. The hero must overcome obstacles and follow the villain's trail, culminating in a dramatic and often physically precarious final showdown to secure the hostage's safety.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core structure of pursuit and rescue, driven by a fast pace and high intensity. They are united by the visceral experience of a race against time, focusing on action sequences and the ultimate goal of saving an innocent life from imminent danger.

Unlock the Full Story of Edge of Eternity

Don't stop at just watching — explore Edge of Eternity in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Edge of Eternity is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Edge of Eternity Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Edge of Eternity, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Edge of Eternity Summary

Edge of Eternity Timeline

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Edge of Eternity Timeline

Edge of Eternity Spoiler-Free Summary

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Edge of Eternity Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Edge of Eternity

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