Hell And High Water

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Hell and High Water brings an intriguing Cold War slant to a standard submarine melodrama. Richard Widmark plays a soldier-of-fortune sub commander who agrees to sell his services to noted atomic scientist Victor Francen and his assistant (and daughter) Bella Darvi. Francen intends to prove that the Communists intend to launch a nuclear attack on Korea from an Arctic island, then blame the attack on the United States. Widmark frankly doesn't give a fig about politics, but he is won over by the sincerity of Francen and his idealistic cohorts, and by the beauty of Ms. Darvi. Before the Reds' evil intentions can be thwarted, however, Widmark must face down a Communist Chinese submarine loaded with highly volatile atomic weaponry. The special effects are very impressive, especially for a mid-1950s 20th Century-Fox production. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Subtitle: Eng/Spa
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Cinemascope)
• Features:
  • Richard Widmark: Strength of Characters as seen on Biography on the A&E network
  • Still gallery
  • Interactive pressbook gallery
  • Original theatrical trailer

AWARDS

• Directors Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Director - 1954 (Samuel Fuller)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Richard Widmark - Adam Jones
       Bella Darvi - Denise
       Victor Francen - Prof. Montel
       Cameron Mitchell - "Ski" Brodski
       Gene Evans - Chief Holter
       David Wayne - Dugboat Walker
       Stephen Bekassy - Neuman
       Richard Loo - Fujimori
       Henry Kulky - Gunner McCrossin
       Artarne Wong - Chin Lee
       Harry Carter - Quartermaster
       Robert Adler - Welles
       Don Orlando - Carpino
       Rollin Moriyama - Joto
       William Yip - Ho-Sin
       Tommy Walker - Crew Member
       Leslie E. Bradley - Mr. Aylesworth
       John Wengraf - Col. Schuman
       Harry Denny - McAuliff
       Edo Mita - Taxi Driver
       Robert B. Williams - Reporter
       Harlan Warde - Photographer
       Neyle Morrow

• Director:

  Samuel Fuller

• Producer:

  Raymond A. Klune

• Screenwriter:

  Samuel Fuller

• Screen Story:

  David Hempstead

• Screenwriter:

  Jesse Lasky, Jr.

• Cinematographer:

  Joe MacDonald

• Composer (Music Score):

  Alfred Newman

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Edward B. Powell

• Editor:

  James B. Clark

• Art Director:

  Stuart A. Reiss, Walter Scott, Lyle Wheeler, Leland Fuller

• Set Designer:

  Stuart A. Reiss, Walter Scott

• Costume Designer:

  Charles LeMaire, William Travilla

• Special Effects:

  Ray Kellogg

REVIEW:

• A big rowdy comic book movie, Hell and High Water is far from great cinema, but it does pack a punch that devotees of Cold War flicks and/or director Samuel Fuller will certainly appreciate. As the director himself admitted, Hell is not one of Fuller's greatest movies, but it still has his two-fisted signature on every frame. Fuller knows how to make action, and how to frame conflicts the way he wants them, and Hell benefits from that expertise; the script is often ridiculous, but Fuller ignores that and pretends it all makes sense, and if anybody starts to complain, an entirely appropriate yet stunning tracking shot or deliciously powerful rapid-fire edit sequence will appear to reel them back in. Although the special effects work is sometimes primitive by today's standards, Fuller still makes great use of submarine models to create a gripping chase between two subs. The director is helped in his efforts by star Richard Widmark, whose ability to credibly project both cynicism and heroism is crucial to Hell's success. Widmark carries a great deal of the film, especially since leading lady Bella Darvi adds little to the proceedings beyond a pretty face. Fortunately, David Wayne, Cameron Mitchell and the rest of the supporting cast make up for Darvi's deficiencies. Hell's screenplay is too full of holes and too weak on characterization and dialogue for the film to rise above average, but Fuller and company make it a good "Saturday afternoon" pic. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi