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Hell Below Zero
Hell Below Zero
Directed by	Mark Robson
Written by	Richard Maibaum
Screenplay by	Alec Coppel; Max Trell
Based on	The White South; by Hammond Innes
Produced by	Irving Allen; Albert R. Broccoli
Starring	Alan Ladd ; Joan Tetzel ; Basil Sydney ; Stanley Baker
Cinematography	John Wilcox
Edited by	John D. Guthridge
Music by	Clifton Parker
Color process	Technicolor
Production; company	Warwick Films
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release dates	13 January 1954 (London); 16 July 1954 (US);
Running time	91 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom; United States
Language	English
Budget	$1 million (approx)
Box office	$1.7 million

Hell Below Zero is a 1954 British-American adventure film directed by Mark Robson and starring Alan Ladd, Joan Tetzel, Basil Sydney and Stanley Baker. It was written by Alec Coppel and Max Trell based on the 1949 novel The White South by Hammond Innes, and presents interesting footage of whaling fleets in action.^[3] It was the second of Ladd's films for Warwick Films.

Plot

Captain Nordahl, an associate in a Norwegian whaling company, Bland-Nordahl, is on a factory ship Southern Harvester in Antarctic waters, when he is lost overboard.

Duncan Craig, an American, meets Judie Nordahl, the captain's daughter on his way to South Africa, where he gets even with a business partner who cheated him. With little money left and a desire to see Judie again, Craig signs on to be a mate on the ship taking Judie to Antarctica.

On arrival in Antarctic waters, Craig finds suspicious evidence that seems to implicate skipper Erik Bland, the new captain of the factory ship, in a conspiracy. Another murder follows and the film concludes with a dramatic showdown on the ice.

Cast

Alan Ladd as Duncan Craig
Joan Tetzel as Judie Nordhal
Basil Sydney as Bland
Stanley Baker as Erik Bland
Joseph Tomelty as Capt. McPhee
Niall MacGinnis as Dr. Howe
Jill Bennett as Gerda Petersen
Peter Dyneley as Miller
Susan Rayne as Kathleen
Philo Hauser as Sandeborg
Ivan Craig as Larsen
Paddy Ryan as Manders
Cyril Chamberlain as Factory Ship Radio Operator
Paul Homer as Kista Dan Radio Operator
Edward Hardwicke as Ulvik
John Witty as Martens
Brandon Toomey as Christiansen
Genine Graham as Stewardess
Basil Cunard as Office Manager
Fred Griffiths as Drunken Sailor
John Warren as Hotel Receptionist
Philip Ray as Capt. Petersen
Paul Connell as Svensen
Glyn Houston as Borg

Production

The movie was part of a two-picture deal Ladd made with Warwick Films, following The Red Beret.^[4]^[5]^[6] Ladd was paid $200,000 against 10% of the profits.^[1] During production it was known as White South and White Mantle.^[7] Director Mark Robson wanted Eugene Pallette to play a role but Pallette was unhappy with the size of the part in the script.^[8]

Shooting took place at Pinewood Studios near London.^[9] The film included location footage shot in Antarctic waters. Albert Broccoli accompanied a second unit crew down there for over three months.^[10] The film's sets were designed by the art director Alex Vetchinsky.

The budget was £247,512 plus the fees of Ladd, Broccoli and Allen, screenwriter Maibaum and the director.^[11]

Reception

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was a "money maker" at the British box office in 1954.^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b Scheuer, Philip K. (June 13, 1954). "A TOWN CALLED HOLLYWOOD: Producers Want English Clear--Even in Oklahoma". Los Angeles Times. p. D4.
^ "1954 Box Office Champs". Variety Weekly. January 5, 1955. p. 59. - figures are rentals in the US and Canada
^ IMDB entry
^ Broccoli, Albert R. & Zec, Donald (1999). When the Snow Melts: The Autobiography of Cubby Broccoli. Trans-Atlantic Publications.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "STUDIOS PLANNING 2 ALAN LADD FILMS: Warwick and Columbia to Join in Offering 'The Red Beret' and 'The White South'". New York Times. July 15, 1952. p. 17.
^ "LADD PLANS MOVIE OF A WHALING TRIP: Actor to Make 'White South,' About Antarctic Expedition, Abroad for Irving Allen". New York Times. Nov 3, 1952. p. 36.
^ "ROBSON TO DIRECT WHALING PICTURE: Ladd Stars in 'White Mantle,' to Be Filmed in England for Warwick Productions". New York Times. Dec 3, 1952. p. 45.
^ Schallert, Edwin (Feb 7, 1953). "Freeman Gives Light on New 3-D Process; Ryan Set for 'Inferno'". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.
^ "The Future Programme", Kinematograph Weekly, 31 May 1956 p 14
^ Hopper, Hedda (Feb 6, 1953). "Looking at Hollywood: Alan Ladd and Stanley Baker to Co-Star in Movie of Antarctic". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. b4.
^ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 358
^ Billings, Josh (16 December 1954). "Other monkey makers". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 9.