Fire Down Below (1957 film)

Infobox Film
name = Fire Down Below


director = Robert Parrish
producer = Albert R. Broccoli
writer = Irwin Shaw
music = Douglas Gamley
starring = Rita Hayworth
Jack Lemmon
Robert Mitchum
runtime = 116 min.
distributor = Columbia Pictures Corporation
released = May 1, 1957
language = English
imdb_id = 0050397

"Fire Down Below" is a 1957 drama film starring Rita Hayworth, Jack Lemmon and Robert Mitchum.

Plot

After World War II, Americans Tony (Lemmon) and Felix (Mitchum) own a tramp boat, the "Ruby", which they use for small-scale smuggling around the Caribbean, along with a third crewman, Jimmy Jean (Edric Connor). One day, their bartender contact, Miguel (Anthony Newley), introduces them to an American businessman who has been enjoying the company of beautiful but passport-less European Irena (Hayworth). He has to return to Detroit, but wants to arrange for her to get to another island. They are reluctant, but $1000 proves very tempting.

On the voyage, Tony starts falling in love with her. Knowing the kind of woman she is, Felix does his best to protect his partner by warning Irena to stay away from Tony. However, Felix starts falling for her himself. When she disembarks, Tony goes with her, ending his partnership with Felix.

Tony and Jimmy Jean take on a shady job, but are intercepted by the authorities. They have to abandon ship and swim to a nearby island to avoid arrest. Tony takes a job on a cargo ship to get back to Irena. He also plans to kill Felix, correctly suspecting that his former partner tipped off the customs agents to get rid of the competition for Irena. However, while he is away, she goes to Felix and confesses she loves him.

After a collision, Tony is trapped below deck under a girder with time running out; the ship is aflame and carrying a highly explosive cargo. Doctor Sam Blake (Bernard Lee) offers the only way out, by amputating Tony's trapped legs, but he would rather die. Felix goes aboard and stays with him. Luckily, an explosion frees Tony, and Felix carries him to safety.

Cast

*Rita Hayworth "as" Irena. Hayworth returned to the screen in this film after an absence of four years. Reports stated that Hayworth was often scared to step in front of the cameras during shooting, but her nerves eased away nicely as she developed warm friendships with co-stars Lemmon and Mitchum, as well as with director Robert Parrish.
*Jack Lemmon "as" Tony
*Robert Mitchum "as" Felix. Inspired by the Caribbean location, Mitchum recorded a calypso album.
*Herbert Lom "as" Harbor Master
*Bernard Lee "as" Dr. Sam Blake
*Peter Illing "as" Captain of the 'Ulysses'
*Edric Connor "as" Jimmy Jean
*Anthony Newley "as" Miguel
*Eric Pohlmann "as" Hotel Owner

Production

The film was shot on location in Tobago.

oundtrack

*Fire Down Below by Lester Lee and Ned Washington
*All harmonica themes in this movie are composed and played by Jack Lemmon.