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Hell and High Water

Play trailer Poster for Hell and High Water 1954 1h 43m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 36% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Mercenary sub commander, Captain Adam Jones (Richard Widmark), sells his services to noted atomic scientist Professor Montel (Victor Francen) and his daughter, Denise (Bella Darvi). Professor Montel is convinced the Communists are about to launch a nuclear attack on Korea from an island in the Arctic and blame it on the United States. Captain Jones does not care about politics, but the earnest Professor and his supporters win him over to their cause, and they try to thwart the Communists' plans.

Critics Reviews

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Fernando F. Croce Slant Magazine 05/23/2007
3/4
Hell and High Water more than holds its own with such other all-business '50s naval flicks as The Enemy Below and Run Silent Run Deep. Go to Full Review Francois Truffaut Arts (France) 05/06/2022
Fuller’s direction is merely adequate; color has been used in an amusing way, but without taste. Richard Widmark is prodigiously bored; Victor Francen, with his feverish chin, parodies himself. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 11/08/2021
2.5/4
In the annals of cinematic submarine sagas, this one rests toward the middle of the pack. Go to Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 09/08/2020
3.5/5
A definite find for Fuller fans, Hell and High Water is the antithesis of 1950s studio era action cinema, outfitted with the director's usual grim demeanor and pronounced pessimism. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 11/24/2003
B-
This is a tepid film by Sam Fuller standards, but still has enough salt in it to burn. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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mark g @Mark_Alan_G. Jan 15 I'm a huge Richard Widmark fan, but this was weak. Dated to say the least. And what's with the music? It's graduation music. Just a cringe movie in which the male characters are so patronizing and silly. See more 11/06/2015 a good cold war submarine movie. See more 10/11/2015 Fair action-adventure with the underwater scenes better and more tense than those on land. See more 06/14/2014 The Submarine and their Scientists race to try to save the world--It's a bread and butter Sci-fi adventure that happens to involve a submarine. If you're a fan of both, you will enjoy this movie. If you're looking for great artful movie that sings to your humanity, then go watch 'The Shawshank Redemption'!! See more 10/06/2011 Dull and predictable flag-waver in which brave and hardy Americans, assisted by a few rest-of-the-world experts, save the planet from the Red Menace. See more 12/12/2010 Not as well written or engaging as other fuller flicks. But still Watchable. See more Read all reviews
Hell and High Water

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Samuel Fuller

Director

Richard Widmark

Capt. Adam Jones

Bella Darvi

Denise Montel

Victor Francen

Prof. Montel

Cameron Mitchell

'Ski' Brodski

Gene Evans

Chief Holter

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Hell and High Water

Hell and High Water (1954) Hell and High Water (1954) Hell and High Water (1954) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Mercenary sub commander, Captain Adam Jones (Richard Widmark), sells his services to noted atomic scientist Professor Montel (Victor Francen) and his daughter, Denise (Bella Darvi). Professor Montel is convinced the Communists are about to launch a nuclear attack on Korea from an island in the Arctic and blame it on the United States. Captain Jones does not care about politics, but the earnest Professor and his supporters win him over to their cause, and they try to thwart the Communists' plans.
Director
Samuel Fuller
Producer
Raymond A. Klune
Screenwriter
Samuel Fuller, Jesse Lasky Jr.
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 6, 1954, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 22, 2007
Runtime
1h 43m
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