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IMDbPro

The Spiral Road

  • 19621962
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 19m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
548
YOUR RATING
The Spiral Road (1962)
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Romance
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
548
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Mulligan
  • Writers
    • John Lee Mahin
    • Neil Paterson
    • Jan de Hartog(book and play "Godsgeuzen")
  • Stars
    • Rock Hudson
    • Burl Ives
    • Gena Rowlands
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Mulligan
  • Writers
    • John Lee Mahin
    • Neil Paterson
    • Jan de Hartog(book and play "Godsgeuzen")
  • Stars
    • Rock Hudson
    • Burl Ives
    • Gena Rowlands
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos24

    Rock Hudson during the making of "The Spiral Road" 1962 Universal Pictures
    "The Spiral Road" Rock Hudson 1961 Universal Pictures
    "The Spiral Road" Rock Hudson 1961 Universal Pictures
    Gena Rowlands in "The Spiral Road" 1962 Universal Pictures
    Gena Rowlands and Burl Ives in The Spiral Road (1962)
    Rock Hudson and Gena Rowlands in The Spiral Road (1962)
    Rock Hudson and Burl Ives in The Spiral Road (1962)
    Rock Hudson and Burl Ives in The Spiral Road (1962)
    Rock Hudson and Karl Swenson in The Spiral Road (1962)
    Rock Hudson and Gena Rowlands in The Spiral Road (1962)
    Rock Hudson, Larry Gates, Robert F. Simon, and Karl Swenson in The Spiral Road (1962)
    Rock Hudson in The Spiral Road (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rock Hudson
    Rock Hudson
    • Dr. Anton Drager
    Burl Ives
    Burl Ives
    • Dr. Brits Jansen
    Gena Rowlands
    Gena Rowlands
    • Els
    Geoffrey Keen
    Geoffrey Keen
    • Willem Wattereus
    Neva Patterson
    Neva Patterson
    • Louise Kramer
    Will Kuluva
    Will Kuluva
    • Dr. Sordjano
    Philip Abbott
    Philip Abbott
    • Frolick
    Larry Gates
    Larry Gates
    • Dr. Kramer
    Karl Swenson
    Karl Swenson
    • Insp. Bevers
    Edgar Stehli
    Edgar Stehli
    • The Sultan
    Judy Dan
    • Laja
    Robert F. Simon
    Robert F. Simon
    • Dr. Martens
    Ibrahim Pendek
    • Stegomyia
    • (as Ibrahim Bin Hassan)
    Reggie Nalder
    Reggie Nalder
    • Burubi
    Leon Lontoc
    Leon Lontoc
    • Dr. Hatta
    David Lewis
    David Lewis
    • Maj. Vlormans
    Parley Baer
    Parley Baer
    • Mr. Boosmans
    Fredd Wayne
    Fredd Wayne
    • Van Bloor
    • Director
      • Robert Mulligan
    • Writers
      • John Lee Mahin
      • Neil Paterson
      • Jan de Hartog(book and play "Godsgeuzen")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      final film of Sally Cleaves.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Anton Drager: Dr. Jensen?

      Dr. Brits Jansen: Who did you expect, Robinson Crusoe?

    • Connections
      Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Superbly evocative of tropical colonialism.
    This is a big picture, which deserves more exposure. In the early 60s Universal was more known for fluffball (but high quality) Doris Day product, but here they show their diversity by presenting what was obviously a prestige picture. Bob Mulligan, who scored a hit with 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in the same year, got to try his hand at an epic. The main titles are perfect to set the mood: youthful Jerry Goldsmith's talents as a composer are spectacular and atmospheric. He of course used gamelans in his score, but he uses them with concise effect, and without cliché. The graphics of the titles are very fine: colourful maps guide us in to a strange 'exotic' place. Such a relief from the sterile titles of today.

    This film really made a big impression on me as a kid when I saw it on TV in the late 60s. 'Pan and scan' TV viewing had a definite mystique to it, as the process of squeezing anamorphic images into The Box automatically made the picture in question important. 'The Spiral Road' was no exception. But it IS important. I can imagine the grandeur of seeing it in a full-blown picture palace. Everything in the film is competently executed. I even remember the props, such as Rock's intriguing spherical fan on his bedside table.

    The performances are excellent, reliable, and everyone really delivers. Burl Ives practically steals the show (as usual), and gets some good 'honeylamb' lines in. The aged Sultan is memorable. The fabulous Larry Gates, one of the greats, never disappoints. This role was a warm up for his deeper part as the missionary in 'The Sand Pebbles', a more profound companion to this picture.

    'Lord Jim' of 1965 explores the same 'dark side of the jungle', only a century earlier. All three are outstanding examinations of the many dimensions of tropical and Asian colonialism, albeit from a Western viewpoint.

    I agree that it's time this picture, and many more like it, was allowed into wider exposure via video/DVD. Vendors, take note!

    PS: I just saw the DVD edition, and I was not disappointed. The picture holds up very well, though I would have wished for more Burl Ives in the last sequences. Russell Harlan's camera-work is outstanding, only matched by his work on 'Hawaii' a few years later.
    helpful•27
    7
    • Gooper
    • Sep 17, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 23, 1962 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Am schwarzen Fluß
    • Filming locations
      • Paramaribo, Suriname
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 19 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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