Hell Harbor (1930)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Rida Johnson Young (novel)
Fred De Gresac (adaptation)

Release Date:

15 March 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Dramatic Success!

Plot:

Lovely Anita dreams of escaping the monotony of her island home and sailing to bustling Havana. But...

Plot Keywords:

Havana | Pearl | Henry Morgan | Pier | Courtship

Cast

Lupe Velez	...	Anita Morgan
Jean Hersholt	...	Joseph Horngold
John Holland	...	Bob Wade
Gibson Gowland	...	Henry Morgan
Harry Allen	...	Peg Leg
Al St. John	...	Bunion
Paul E. Burns	...	Blinky (as Paul Burns)
George Bookasta	...	Spotty
Ulysses Williams	...	Nemo

Runtime:

93 min | USA:83 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (PCA #605, for re-release)

Filming Locations:

Tampa, Florida, USA

Company:

Inspiration Pictures

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wolves of the Sea (1936)

Rondo Hatton's first film!

Interesting, rarely seen film that is notable for the re-teaming of Jean Hersholt and Gibson Gowland, who made such memorable enemies in Erich von Stroheim's GREED (1924). For genre fans though it is also memorable as the first screen appearance of Rondo Hatton. Filmed in Florida, Hatton was working as a reporter for the Tampa Herald at the time and was probably spotted there by director Henry King. Though Hatton's glandular condition, acromegaly, was already noticeable we can see it is not nearly as pronounced as it was in his later Universal films. Rondo has the small role of the bartender in a dusty dive in the small coastal village where the action takes place. He may or may not have any lines. In one scene where the lights go out and a murder takes place a voice cries out "He's done for!" and that MIGHT be Rondo's voice but it is hard to tell. Henry King gave Rondo that old line (which was probably a cliche even in 1930) "If you ever come to Hollywood come and see me." Well it took Hatton 7 years to make up his mind but finally he boarded a train for the west coast, leaving behind a wife who thought he was wasting his time. His first film in Hollywood was IN OLD CHICAGO (1937) also directed by Henry King. Rondo is billed 17th in the credits and listed as "bodyguard" though several people in the film call his character "Rondo". It was the start of a short but memorable career, capped by immortality in 3 Universal pictures where he played the spine snapping "Creeper". Nicely done Rondo, you lived the dream.