to try and get him the credit. And it went into arbitration with the Writer's Guild, and another guy Lindsay Hardy got total screen credit on it. It was a joke. He no more wrote that script than walk on the water. Butler made that total screenplay." Filming started 13 April 1953 at the Motion Picture Center Studio. The film was shot in 11 days, on a budget that has been reported between $90,000 and $100,000. It was shot over 6 days, then Aldrich halted production to shoot TV commercials in order to raise money for the film's post-production. Then there was a five-day shoot to finish it. "It was a strange and very enjoyable experience and – except for the end result – a marvellous collaboration", said Aldrich. "It really had no sets and thanks to Joe Biroc we had reflections in the water where there was no water and all sorts of silly things. I've always looked back on World for Ransom with a kind of wistful happy feeling.." The film is similar to another film noir with a nuclear theme by Aldrich, Kiss Me Deadly, the difference being that Callahan is trying to get an old girlfriend back, while Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly was in it for the money. Reception The film had a considerable impact on Aldrich's career – in July 1953 Harold Hecht hired him to direct Burt Lancaster in Apache. Critical response When the film was released, film critic Bosley Crowther was negative about the film but appreciated the actors, writing, "Nothing gives it distinction, save possibly the people in its cast ... Robert Aldrich produced and directed. He was trying. Some day he may learn how." More recently, film critic Dennis Schwartz was positive about the film, and wrote, "This is a marvelously understated film noir that parodies all those big-budget spy/adventure films and in my opinion does a better job than most in getting to the underbelly of that genre. Aldrich was upset with censors for lifting the scene where Duryea learns his love interest is a lesbian. He could forgive her love for other men, but not with other women. The 1950s wasn't ready for such relationships, at least not in films. Nevertheless, this was a compelling film doing a fantastic job exploring the uncertainty of partnerships and the indeterminate nature of trust." References External links Complete film at