HELL AND HIGH WATER-1954-Richard Widmark (one of the most unappealing leading men of all time) leads a privately financed submarine expedition to try and stop WW3 in this Cold War drama by Samuel Fuller. Along the way he romances a French scientist (Bella Darvi who co-starred in THE EGYPTIAN the same year). It turns out (the un-named) Red China wants to drop an atomic bomb and let the USA take the blame! The French scientist (Victor Francen; a famous French actor who made many appearances in the US) who’s in charge doesn’t agree.
This is a pretty cool, if clichéd story that I think probably inspired Irwin Allen to create VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA! In another unique Fuller turn there aren’t many close-up shots. Cameron Mitchell, David Wayne, Henry Kulky (also in the first season of the TV version of VTTBOTS), Richard Loo and Fuller regular Gene Evans also star. Widmark had previously starred in Fuller’s PICK UP ON SOUTH STREET. Mitchell was later in Fuller’s HOUSE OF BAMBOO.
Speaking of which...
HOUSE OF BAMBOO-1955-Sam Fuller’s mostly routine Technicolor crime drama is enhanced by the on location Japan scenes.
Robert Stack investigates the death of a soldier who was married to a Japanese geisha. He infiltrates the criminal organization run by American gangster Robert Ryan whose second in command is Cameron Mitchell (as Griff). Along the way he falls in love with the soldier’s widow (Shirley Yamaguchi). Fuller’s unique touches make the whole thing worthwhile though. Brad Dexter is Stack’s boss and Sessue Hayakawa is the local police inspector. Hayakawa had been a silent screen star in the US from 1913 to 1922 and was in THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI two years later. HOUSE also features un-credited roles by DeForrest Kelly, Harry Carey Jr., John Doucette, Richard Loo and Fuller himself.
"Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry"-Mark Twain
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