Fire Down Below (1957)

Director:

Robert Parrish

Writers:

Irwin Shaw (screenplay)
Max Catto (novel)

Release Date:

May 1957 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

Torrid, tempestuous Irena...the spark that turned the tropics into a blazing cauldron of passions!

Plot:

Tony and Felix own a tramp boat, and sail around the Caribbean doing odd jobs and drinking a lot. They...

Plot Keywords:

Switchblade | Roadboatmovie | Based On Novel

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Rita Hayworth	...	Irena
Robert Mitchum	...	Felix Bowers
Jack Lemmon	...	Tony
Herbert Lom	...	Harbor Master
Bonar Colleano	...	Lt. Sellars
Bernard Lee	...	Dr. Sam Blake
Peter Illing	...	Captain of the 'Ulysses'
Edric Connor	...	Jimmy Jean
Anthony Newley	...	Miguel
Eric Pohlmann	...	Hotel Owner
Lionel Murton	...	American
Vivian Matalon	...	Sailor
Gordon Tanner	...	Sailor
Maurice Kaufmann	...	Sailor
Joan Miller	...	Mrs. Canaday

Runtime:

USA:116 min | UK:116 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | USA:Approved (certificate #17966) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Warwick Film Productions

Trivia:

Average Shot Length (ASL) = 7.6 seconds

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In an early scene, Felix and Tony are supposed to be transporting Irena on their boat when they get into a fist fight. Jimmy Jean continues to steer before eventually breaking up the fight. The camera pulls back and shows that the boat isn't moving.

Quotes:

Irena: Sometimes you wonder what God had in mind when He invented the male sex.

Soundtrack:

Fire Down Below

A very good film with one giant misstep

This film was quite enjoyable but I think it could have been immeasurably improved if the director and editor had included more scenes between Robert Mitchum and Rita Hayworth. The episode where Jack Lemmon's character is trapped on the ship is far too drawn out. His crisis should've been shortened and they should've actually shown Rita Hayworth turning to Robert Mitchum because they are kindred spirits, instead of just explaining this occurance later on. Mitchum and Hayworth were off-screen far too long. That major complaint aside, I found the film very entertaining. Mitchum is perfect with the weary, cynical, and intense combination. Hayworth has more depth than usual as the mysterious foreign woman. And Lemmon in a rare dramatic turn is very convincing as the naive and lovestruck young man. Here's an interesting tidbit: the film was executive produced by Cubby Broccoli, the long time producer of the Bond movies, and Bernard Lee, who would play M in the Bond films, has a supporting role in Fire Down Below. 7/10.