A Benedict Bogeaus Production. Photographed in CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color. Copyright 1957 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Palace: 11 April 1957. U.S. release: April 1957. U.K. release: June 1957. Australian release: no record. 87 minutes.
NOTES: Veteran director Allan Dwan's only CinemaScope movie.
COMMENT: I remember seeing this one on first release. I was alone in the theater, would you believe? First and only time that ever happened to me – and no wonder! I notice that Allan Dwan's extremely vociferous local fans have made no efforts whatever to have this movie revived. I wonder why?
"Tedious" is the word for the script, "labored" will suffice for the direction, and "unbelievable" serves as my catch-cry for the acting. Mr. Quinn, would you believe, is the hero? True, at this stage of his career he was playing good guys, but to me he was always the extra-forceful but slimy, hard-hitting, charismatic, pretty-boy hood of such films as Night Waitress, Dangerous To Know, Tip-Off Girls, Hunted Men, King of Alcatraz, King of Chinatown, Television Spy, Emergency Squad, etc.
For my money, Anthony Quinn was never half as interesting as a hero.
Also miscast in this one, we find suave Ray Milland playing the villain. And a nasty piece of work he is too (in both senses of that word)! The only relief on the acting front is provided by sexy Debra Paget, who slinks around exuding misplaced passion.
Production values rate absolutely no more than a "B". And whilst the fact that James Leicester doubled as both a co-writer and film editor is definitely a rare event in Hollywood, it's not one that I'd care to suggest needs repeating after watching this example.
NOTES: Veteran director Allan Dwan's only CinemaScope movie.
COMMENT: I remember seeing this one on first release. I was alone in the theater, would you believe? First and only time that ever happened to me – and no wonder! I notice that Allan Dwan's extremely vociferous local fans have made no efforts whatever to have this movie revived. I wonder why?
"Tedious" is the word for the script, "labored" will suffice for the direction, and "unbelievable" serves as my catch-cry for the acting. Mr. Quinn, would you believe, is the hero? True, at this stage of his career he was playing good guys, but to me he was always the extra-forceful but slimy, hard-hitting, charismatic, pretty-boy hood of such films as Night Waitress, Dangerous To Know, Tip-Off Girls, Hunted Men, King of Alcatraz, King of Chinatown, Television Spy, Emergency Squad, etc.
For my money, Anthony Quinn was never half as interesting as a hero.
Also miscast in this one, we find suave Ray Milland playing the villain. And a nasty piece of work he is too (in both senses of that word)! The only relief on the acting front is provided by sexy Debra Paget, who slinks around exuding misplaced passion.
Production values rate absolutely no more than a "B". And whilst the fact that James Leicester doubled as both a co-writer and film editor is definitely a rare event in Hollywood, it's not one that I'd care to suggest needs repeating after watching this example.