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]

Hell Ship Mutiny
Original film poster
Directed by
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySam Leavitt
Edited byElmo Williams
Music by
Production
company
Lovina Productions
Distributed byRepublic Pictures
Release date
  • 6 December 1957 (1957-12-06) (United States)
Running time
66 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

This film is now in the public domain.

Plot

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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

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Production

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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

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

See also

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References

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  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. ^ p. 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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