HELL BELOW ZERO
UK, 1954, 90 minutes, Colour.
Alan Ladd, Joan Tetzel, Basil Sidney, Stanley Baker, Joseph Tomalty, Niall Mc Guinness, Jill Bennett.
Directed by Mark Robson.
Hell Below Zero is a star vehicle for Alan Ladd, who had made a number of films in England at this period including The Red Beret and The Black Knight. He was a popular action star of the late 40s to the mid-50s. The film also stars stage actress Joan Tetzel who made very few films. There is a strong British supporting cast led by Basil Sidney and Stanley Baker. Jill Bennett has an unusual role as the captain of a whaling ship.
The film was made on location in South Africa and in the Antarctic. Often, the film has a somewhat documentary tone, especially in life on ships in the Southern Ocean.
The film is conventional action, based on the novel by popular writer of the 50s, Hammond Innes. There are the expected attitudes, mysteries, double-dealings, fights – with a climax on the Antarctic snow.
1. Popular action adventure of the 1950s? Impact now?
2. Location photography, Southern Africa, Cape Town, the Southern Ocean? Antarctica? The action sequences? The ships locked in the ice? The fight on the snow? The musical score?
3. The title and the indication of themes, difficulties in Antarctica?
4. The whaling companies, money deals, the ships, owners in London, business in South Africa? The background of the captains, from Scandinavia – and the World War Two background and the Resistance and espionage?
5. Alan Ladd as Duncan Craig, suave, quiet, meeting Judy on the plane? Attracted towards her, meeting her in Cape Town? Signing on for the ship, getting the ship out of the harbour, the interaction with the captain? The meeting with businessman and his attitude towards him on the ship? The encounter with the doctor, his drinking? The information about Judy and Eric, his stern stance towards her, finding out the truth? Romance? The meeting with Eric, the mystery of the death of Judy’s father? The witness in the brig? The clashes with Eric? Being trapped in the ice, the help of the captain, her explanation of work in the Antarctic? Luring Eric and his ship, his crashing it? The fight in the snow? The happy ending? The American hero?
6. Judy, the news of her father’s death, going to Africa, the business discussions, the relationship with Duncan? On the boat, the romance, her being hurt by his indifference, the resolution of the problem? The dangers, the clashes with Eric? The happy ending?
7. The business partner, his tough attitudes, his reliance on his son? On the boat, handing over to Duncan after the injury to the captain? Eric, his war background, Nazi? His plan, the murder of Judy’ father, the engagement? His dealing with matters, his henchmen? The interactions with Duncan, especially over the interrogation of the prisoner? The crashing of the ship, imprisonment of the group? The fight on the snow and his death?
8. The doctor, drinking, friends with the dead man? The operation of the captain, being trusted by Duncan? His information about Judy and Eric, his rehabilitation? The captain, friendliness, injury?
9. The witness, imprisoned, interrogated by Duncan?
10. Popular ingredients for an action adventure?
