Fire Down Below *** (1957, Rita Hayworth, Robert Mitchum, Jack Lemmon, Herbert Lom) – Classic Movie Review 9116

Director Robert Parrish’s 1957 Fire Down Below is based on the novel by Max Catto and stars Robert Mitchum and Jack Lemmon as Felix and Tony, tramp boat owning adventurers falling in love with and fighting over dodgy lovely lady Irena (Rita Hayworth), who hired them to smuggle her across international frontiers. Now Lemmon’s character Tony is wounded and stuck in a burning freighter.

Fire Down Below is a fiery, enjoyable thriller drama, made up with equal parts of adventure and romance, filmed with careful craftsmanship in England by director Parrish, with solid performances from the visiting Americans. But, unexpectedly, it is let down by the British home team of the normally infallible Herbert Lom (Harbour Master), Bernard Lee (Doctor Sam) and Anthony Newley (Miguel), working down below par.

Also in the cast are Bonar Colleano, Edric Connor, Peter Illing, Joan Miller, Eric Pohlmann, Lionel Murton, Maya Koumani, Murray Kash, Vivian Matalon, Gordon Tanner, Maurice Kaufmann, Philip Baird and Keith Banks.

Fire Down Below is directed by Robert Parrish, runs 116 minutes, is made by Warwick Film Productions, is released by Columbia Pcitures, is written by Irwin Shaw, based on the novel by Max Catto, is shot in Technicolor by Desmond Dickinson, is produced by Irving Allen, Albert R Broccoli and Ronald Kinnock, is scored by Arthur Benjamin.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9116

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