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Saturday, July 23, 2022

APPOINTMENT IN HONDURAS (1953)

Jacques Tourneur’s Glory Days were at R.K.O. in the ‘40s, suggestive horror for producer Val Lewton, films noir with cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca.  He continued to direct fine, if overlooked films in a variety of genres thru the ‘50s*, but this isn’t one of them.  Helped by a few superficial similarities to THE AFRICAN QUEEN/’51 (jungle cruise, deadly wildlife & swarming insects, developing romance, military adversary), budget-conscious producer Benedict Bogeaus got it set up and brought in a better than expected cast (Glenn Ford, Zachary Scott, an obviously unhappy Ann Sheridan, Jack Elam, Rodolfo Acosta, young Stuart Whitman in a bit), but on a nasty plot that exchanges QUEEN’s whimsy, originality & character enchantment for dour political adventure in South America.  (That’s studio set South America; no location stuff.)   Ford and a crew of unwilling hostages from a tramp steamer he’s left behind, travel upriver in hopes of finding the rightful government in exile Ford’s promised to meet.  The group constantly attacked from without and within.  Tourneur does what he can, some of those stock animal shots are downright revolting.  Tiger Fish.  Yuck!  But it’s a sweaty, unpleasant, phone-it-in exercise for all involved.

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/LINK: *Tourneur only recently ranging from the rural Americana of STARS IN MY CROWN to nifty swashbuckling in THE FLAME AND THE ARROW. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2014/07/stars-in-my-crown-1950.html  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/05/flame-and-arrow-1950.html

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