Seven Women from Hell is a 1961 war drama directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Patricia Owens, Denise Darcel (in her final film), Margia Dean, Yvonne Craig and Cesar Romero about women prisoners in a Japanese World War II prison camp, interned with other prisoners.[2][3][4]
| Seven Women from Hell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Robert D. Webb |
| Written by | Jesse Lasky Jr. and Pat Silver-Lasky |
| Produced by | Harry Spalding |
| Starring | Patricia Owens Denise Darcel Cesar Romero John Kerr Margia Dean |
| Cinematography | Floyd Crosby |
| Edited by | Jodie Copelan |
| Music by | Paul Dunlap |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $300,000[1] |
Plot
editWhen the Japanese invade New Guinea in 1942, Grace Ingram, an Australian member of a scientific expedition, is captured and then imprisoned in a women's detention camp. She shares her prison barrack with six other women: Janet Cook, a pregnant American teenager; Ann Van Laer, a tightlipped but sympathetic German widow; Claire Oudry, a French waitress; Mai-Lu Ferguson, a Eurasian nurse; and two other Americans, Mara Shepherd, an ignorant rich woman, and Regan, a soft-spoken young lady.
During a bombing raid, Janet's baby is born dead and the humane Captain Oda is killed. Sergeant Takahashi, his sadistic assistant, assumes command of the camp, and a friendly Japanese, Doctor Matsumo, helps the women escape.
Mara is recaptured and tortured to death, and Claire and Regan are killed by rifle fire. The surviving four encounter a wounded American flyer, Lt. Bill Jackson, who helps them make their way to the beach but dies before they can reach safety. A wealthy planter, Luis Hullman, finds the girls, feigns friendship, and then attempts to hand them over to the Japanese. But the women learn of his plan, kill him, and escape by boat to the Allied lines.[5]
Cast
edit- Patricia Owens as Grace Ingram
- Denise Darcel as Claire Oudry
- Cesar Romero as Luis Hullman
- John Kerr as Lt. Bill Jackson
- Margia Dean as Mara Shepherd
- Yvonne Craig as Janet Cook
- Pilar Seurat as Mai-Lu Ferguson
- Sylvia Daneel as Anna Van Laer
- Richard Loo as Sgt. Takahashi
- Evadne Baker as Regan
- Bob Okazaki as Capt. Oda
- Yuki Shimoda as Dr. Matsumo
- Lloyd Kino as rapist guard
- Kam Fong as house guard
- Robert Ishibashi as truck driver
Production
editThe film was written by Jesse Lasky Jr. and his wife, Pat Silver-Lasky for producer Robert Lippert, who had a deal with Fox to make low budget films.[6] John Kerr was signed to star.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p253
- ^ The New York Times Movies
- ^ "SEVEN WOMEN FROM HELL". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 29. 1962. p. 41. ProQuest 1305823520.
- ^ "SEVEN WOMEN FROM HELL". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 29, no. 336. London. Jan 1, 1962. p. 41.
- ^ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=89661 [bare URL]
- ^ Hopper, H. "Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167907873.
- ^ Hopper, Hedda (May 23, 1961). "Entertainment: Red Skelton Will Star in Own Story Filming Planned in Tokyo; Chevalier in 'The castaways'". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
- ^ Dexter, Maury (2012). Highway to Hollywood (PDF). p. 109.
- ^ Scheuer, P. K. (Jun 6, 1961). "Randall envisions malibu pied piper". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167915352.