Hell Ship Mutiny

Hell Ship Mutiny
Hell Ship Mutiny
	Original film poster
Directed by	Lee Sholem; Elmo Williams;
Written by	DeVallon Scott; Wells Root;
Produced by	George Bilson; Jon Hall;
Starring	Jon Hall; John Carradine; Peter Lorre; Roberta Haynes; Mike Mazurki;
Cinematography	Sam Leavitt
Edited by	Elmo Williams
Music by	Paul Sawtell; Bert Shefter;
Production; company	Lovina Productions
Distributed by	Republic Pictures
Release date	6 December 1957 (United States);
Running time	66 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Hell Ship Mutiny is a 1957 American South Seas adventure film directed by Lee Sholem and Elmo Williams starring Jon Hall who also produced and narrated the film.^[1] It is a compilation of a 1955 unsold television pilot Knight of the South Seas.^[2]^[3] Hall's father Felix Locher plays the role of a native chief.^[4]

This film is now in the public domain.

Plot

Captain Jim Knight, and his crew Roxy, Tula, and a chimp named Salty sail the South Seas in search of adventure. They discover a criminal gang has taken over a small island, forcing the native pearl divers to dive beyond safe limits.

After capturing the three-man gang, Knight takes them to Tahiti for trial where the men escape and force Knight to sail them to New Zealand. Knight subdues them again but this time a minor French magistrate is sent to the island to try them there. The magistrate joins the criminals when a native boy locates the wreck of a lost ship containing a Burmese king's treasure.

Cast

Jon Hall as Capt. Jim Knight
John Carradine as Malone
Peter Lorre as Commissioner Lamoret
Roberta Haynes as Princess Mareva
Mike Mazurki as Ross, chief henchman
Charles Mauu as Tula, sailor
Stanley Adams as Roxy, first mate
Danny Richards Jr. as Tatoa, native boy
Felix Locher as King Parea
Peter Coe as Prince Terahi
Michael Barrett as Pinky, Malone Henchman
Salvador Baguez as Kuala
Salty the Chimp as Salty

Production

In October 1955 Jon Hall, who had just finished starring in Ramar of the Jungle, announced he would play a sea captain in a new TV series Knight of the South Seas. It would be made by his own production company, Lovina.^[5] In December Hedda Hopper reported that Hall had already shot footage in the south seas and signed his first co-star, John Carradine.^[6]

Filming started 15 December 1955 at Fox Western Avenue studios.^[7] Two episodes were filmed.

In May 1956 Hall announced the series would premiere in Tahiti, where Hall grew up.^[8]

The pilot was not picked up so Hall combined the episodes for a feature film.^[9]

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin said "apart from the fights and good underwater shots this juvenile adventure film sadly lacks vitality."^[10]

References

^ Vagg, Stephen (9 April 2022). "The Campy, Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall". Filmiink.
^ "Bio Two". Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
^ p. 396 Youngkin, Stephen D. The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre University Press of Kentucky, 30 September 2005
^ "Felix Locher". IMDb.
^ Matinee Series Calls for Top Names; Jon Hall to Play Sea Captain Ames, Walter. Los Angeles Times 24 October 1955: 32.
^ Looking at Hollywood: Once Hungry in Hollywood, Silvers Now Sought for Film Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 12 December 1955: c8.
^ 'Miracle on 34th St.' First Christmas Fare; Perry Gets Top Singer Ames, Walter. Los Angeles Times 14 December 1955: 34.
^ Louella Parsons: Dorothy Dandridge Won't Lack Money The Washington Post and Times-Herald 18 May 1956: 73.
^ Terrace, Vincent (9 October 2018). Encyclopedia of Unaired Television Pilots, 1945-2018. McFarland. p. 126. ISBN 9781476633497.
^ HELL SHIP MUTINY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 26, Iss. 300, (1 Jan 1959): 19.

External links

Hell Ship Mutiny at IMDb
Hell Ship Mutiny is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive

[hall-1] Vagg, Stephen (9 April 2022). "The Campy, Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall". Filmiink.

[2] "Bio Two". Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2012.

[3] . 396 Youngkin, Stephen D. The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre University Press of Kentucky, 30 September 2005

[4] "Felix Locher". IMDb.

[5] Matinee Series Calls for Top Names; Jon Hall to Play Sea Captain Ames, Walter. Los Angeles Times 24 October 1955: 32.

[6] Looking at Hollywood: Once Hungry in Hollywood, Silvers Now Sought for Film Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 12 December 1955: c8.

[7] 'Miracle on 34th St.' First Christmas Fare; Perry Gets Top Singer Ames, Walter. Los Angeles Times 14 December 1955: 34.

[8] Louella Parsons: Dorothy Dandridge Won't Lack Money The Washington Post and Times-Herald 18 May 1956: 73.

[9] Terrace, Vincent (9 October 2018). Encyclopedia of Unaired Television Pilots, 1945-2018. McFarland. p. 126. ISBN 9781476633497.

[10] HELL SHIP MUTINY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 26, Iss. 300, (1 Jan 1959): 19.

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