Inferno (1953)

A tough, hard-driving business tycoon suffers a broken leg and is left to die in the desert by his scheming wife and her greedy lover.

Director:

Roy Ward Baker (as Roy Baker)

Writer:

Francis M. Cockrell (as Francis Cockrell)

Stars:

Robert Ryan, Rhonda Fleming, William Lundigan

Cast

Cast overview:
Robert Ryan	...	Donald Whitley Carson III
Rhonda Fleming	...	Geraldine Carson
William Lundigan	...	Joseph Duncan
Larry Keating	...	Dave Emory
Henry Hull	...	Sam Elby
Carl Betz	...	Lt. Mike Platt
Robert Burton	...	Sheriff

Storyline

20th Century-Fox put a lot of eggs in this 1953 film---3-D and stereophonic sound on prints for the few theatres equipped for that sound system in 1953, and the result was possibly the best 3-D film made during the craze. The basically-simple plot, in theory but more than that in execution, concerns a spoiled and alcoholic millionaire, Robert Ryan, who breaks his leg falling off of a horse, and is left to die in the desert by his cheating wife, Rhonda Fleming (born for Technicolor and 3-D), and her lover, William Lundigan.

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Plot Keywords:

missing person | desert | airplane | voice over narration | adultery | 

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Taglines:

The most breath-taking man hunt that ever criss-crossed out of the screen!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the cast and crew arrived at the Mojave Desert location it was covered in snow and Rhonda Fleming subsequently developed pneumonia.

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Goofs

The missing persons report misspells "ninety" as "ninty."

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Quotes

[last lines]
Donald Whitley Carson III: Would you rather have the sheriff come back out for you, or ride in with us?

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Alternate Versions

Also shown in a 3D version.

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Connections

Remade as Ordeal (1973)

User Reviews

Survival-in-wilderness thriller worth a look, even minus 3-D

The best thing about Inferno is that, like the Aeneid, it jumps right into the middle of the action. Out in a southwestern desert, under the baking sun, lies Robert Ryan, with his leg broken and only a meager supply of food and water. He's been left to die by his wife (Rhonda Fleming) and her lover (William Lundigan). There's no backstory, no lead-up to the crucial events; what little we need to know gets doled out as the movie advances, but never in flashback.

Of course, anybody can be left to die in the desert by a philandering spouse, but it helps if you're a millionaire, like Ryan. We learn that he inherited his fortune and wonders whether he deserves it, and that he's a tough and private man who suffers no fools gladly (the part's basically a reworking of Ryan's Smith Ohlrig in Max Ophuls' Caught).

The rest of Inferno cross-cuts between Ryan's attempts to survive by his wits and Fleming's and Lundigan's to throw the local police and Ryan's business associates back in Los Angeles off track. After several days elapse, when it becomes apparent that Ryan may still be alive and on the move, Fleming and Lundigan decide that, in order to save themselves, they have to go back and finish the job....

Inferno was issued in 1953, the annus mirabilis of 3-D. Unlike most titles filmed in that short-lived gimmick, it stands pretty well on its own – even the hurtling rocks, striking rattlers and flaming rafters stay effective without knocking viewers over the head. But basically it's a story of a man born to wealth who, to stay alive, must negotiate a deadly wilderness where money proves worthless. Watching Ryan do so is worth giving Inferno a look.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1954 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Inferno

Filming Locations:

Apple Valley, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,055,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1