Hell’s Half Acre *** (1954, Wendell Corey, Evelyn Keyes, Elsa Lanchester, Nancy Gates, Marie Windsor) – Classic Movie Review 8917

‘THROUGH THE TWISTING ALLEYS A WOMAN SEEKS HER MAN AND COLD-BLOODED KILLERS AWAIT HER TOO!’

Producer-director John H Auer’s 1954 black and white drama Hell’s Half Acre from humble Republic Pictures stars Wendell Corey as Chet Chester, who goes missing in action, and ends up in Honolulu and changes his identity during World War Two.

Evelyn Keyes also stars as his wife Donna Williams, who years later sets out to try to find him, even though he has been reported dead, thinking he is actually in prison in Hawaii on a murder charge. But he has escaped as a fugitive from the law after learning his girlfriend has been murdered. While Donna searches Honolulu’s Hell’s Half Acre slum area for him, he seeks his girlfriend’s killer, and his former crime syndicate associates look for both of them.

Hell’s Half Acre is an odd, intriguing little film-noir-style mystery drama which is well set up and plotted. And, thanks to the imaginatively used, atmospheric setting, the big deal of the actual Honolulu location shooting, Auer’s taut handling and the two stalwart star performances, as well as strong, quirky character support from Elsa Lanchester, Nancy Gates and Marie Windsor, certainly maintains the interest.

Also in the cast are Leonard Strong, Jesse White, Keye Luke, Robert Shield, Philip Ahn, Clair Widenaar and Robert Costa.

Hell’s Half Acre is directed by John H Auer, runs 91 minutes, is made by Republic Pictures, is released by Republic Pictures (1954) (US) and British Lion Film Corporation (1954) (UK), is written by Steve Fisher, is shot in black and white by John L Russell, is produced by John H Auer and is scored by R Dale Butts.

The technical advisor is Don the Beachcomber. It is presented by Republic Pictures boss Herbert J Yates.

Hell’s Half Acre is a companion piece to John H Auer’s earlier 1953 black and white crime drama City That Never Sleeps, also written by Steve Fisher and a using similar crew.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8917

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