In 1936, a Dutch physician who treats leprosy patients in the jungles of Indonesia has a dangerous run-in with a local witch-doctor who uses black magic to kill his enemies.
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Title: The Spiral Road (1962)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Rock Hudson | ... | Dr. Anton Drager | |
| Burl Ives | ... | Dr. Brits Jansen | |
| Gena Rowlands | ... | Els | |
| Geoffrey Keen | ... | Willem Wattereus | |
| Neva Patterson | ... | Louise Kramer | |
| Will Kuluva | ... | Dr. Sordjano | |
| Philip Abbott | ... | Frolick | |
| Larry Gates | ... | Dr. Kramer | |
| Karl Swenson | ... | Insp. Bevers | |
 |
Edgar Stehli | ... | The Sultan |
|
|
Judy Dan | ... | Laja |
| Robert F. Simon | ... | Dr. Martens | |
|
|
Ibrahim Pendek | ... | Stegomyia (as Ibrahim Bin Hassan) |
| Reggie Nalder | ... | Burubi | |
| Leon Lontoc | ... | Dr. Hatta | |
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
An arrogant young doctor helps an eccentric older doctor care for natives in the Dutch West Indies circa 1936. Challenged by love, leprosy and black magic, he undergoes a series of ordeals on a spiritual journey through the jungles of Java. Written by Gary R. Peterson
Taglines:
Shattering Adventure That Boldly Explores the Jungles of the Heart!Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
23 November 1962 (Finland) See more »Also Known As:
Am schwarzen Fluß See more »Filming Locations:
Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Dr. Anton Drager: Frankly, no.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The Spiral Road contains the origin for the opening of Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969). Rock Hudson wanders aimlessly through the jungle confused to his identity, while his beard grows long and his clothes wind up in tatters. Finally he comes to a clearing where there is a pool. He sees his reflection and exclaims, "It's..." But instead of an offstage voice saying Monty Python's Flying Circus, he just says, "It's... me!". See more »Quotes
Dr. Brits Jansen: I take it you don't believe in God.Dr. Anton Drager: Frankly, no.
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I saw The Spiral Road as a teen-aged boy in 1963. It was the most impactful movie of that period in my life, creating an emotional impression in me that lingers to this day. Indeed, I cannot hear Beethoven's Fifth Symphony without vividly recalling the scratchy recording playing in that remote colonial outpost as the two linked protagonists each struggled with their personal demons.
The plot of The Spiral Road takes the viewer on a journey not unlike that described in Heart of Darkness; thematic elements contained in the plot become metaphors for larger lessons to be learned regarding colonialism, missionary fervor, the hegemony of Western medicine, and the absolutism of good versus evil as understood by Calvinist colonists.
The superb cast easily sustains the epic scope and grandeur of the film while the intelligent and artful script relates a story that is at once compelling and horrifying.
Hollywood moguls; please get a clue. The Spiral Road belongs in the DVD libraries of discerning film viewers the world over!