Killer Shark

Roddy McDowell (who was also a co-producer, so he has no one to blame but himself) stars in this blah quickie from Monogram about a college student who goes to sea with his father, the captain of a shark-hunting boat, and the troubles that ensue. McDowell is, frankly, not very good in the role; his character comes across as naive, dense and rather stupid. The supporting cast is, for the most part, weak, the script is convoluted and trite, and the only remotely "exciting" thing that happens in the picture is some poorly integrated stock footage of a real shark boat hauling several large sharks--and one VERY large shark-- aboard as part of their catch. There are some phony dramatics involving villain Douglas Fowley, as a shady crew member mixed up with smugglers, and some painfully unfunny comic relief from rotund Nacho Galindo as a cook named "Maestro" who giggles and laughs uncontrollably throughout the picture.

Director Budd Boetticher--billed here as Oscar Boetticher--has done much better (much, MUCH better) work. This film isn't really worth wasting your time on; it's talky, boring and the "fight" scene that occurs near the end of the film is very poorly done. Overall, a real snoozer. Skip it.

I am not surprised that Budd Boetticher made this interesting little adventure drama, starring Roddy McDowall. Anyway this is a movie that any director could have made too. It is a bit flat and predictable but still interesting to watch. Useless to say that this movie is not my all time favorite from Boetticher, even from his early career, but it remains agreeable, not that lousy, just a bit flat. Just because it is from the COMANCHE STATION director; if it had been another unknown film maker, I guess such a plot would have never interested me. This film belongs to the ones that you see because of their director, only curiosity.

Taking a break from college, snobby Roddy McDowall (as Ted White) goes down to Mexico and reconnects with his shark-hunting father, wizened Roland Winters (as Jeff). After not seeing each other for a dozen years, the two have a major culture clash. When his father is injured, young McDowall takes control of the "Sunrays". This angers the crew, who decide to jump ship. Out to prove his mettle, McDowall assembles another crew, but they take advantage of their inexperienced young boss...

After his successful child star years, McDowall found himself a Monogram Pictures player for a couple of these low budget films, before moving on to television appearances. Interestingly, you can spot white-capped Dickie Moore (as Jonesy) in the bar and on the second crew. McDowall and Moore were on the same career trajectory. Note, there is no "Killer Shark" in the story; instead, footage of some men fishing for small sharks is inserted. The cast and crew do their best with the time and money.

**** Killer Shark (3/19/50) Budd Boetticher ~ Roddy McDowall, Roland Winters, Dickie Moore, Douglas Fowley

This little cheapo used to turn up regularly on late night LA TV, much to McDowell's chagrin, I expect. After all, from glossy MGM to miserly Monogram represents quite a tumble. Actually, the movie's not so bad, except for some of the acting that appears at times by the numbers. I just wish someone had put a cork in Galindo's (Maestro) mouth since he appears to confuse shrill giggling with acting.

Young Ted (McDowell) strives manfully to redeem himself after causing a fishing boat mishap injuring his dad and a deck hand. You know he's in trouble when he hires veteran bad guy Fowley (Bracado) to boss a new crew of cutthroats. At the same time, Laurette Luez, of the notorious Prehistoric Women (1950), drifts around the edges as eye candy.

What the production does best is approximate a seedy Mexican waterfront. It must have been done in LA since I can't imagine Monogram actually popping for location filming. The shipboard and shark scenes are occasionally interesting, causing me to wonder whether old movie freak Steven Spielberg saw A-picture possibilities in this little Monogram programmer. After all, stranger things have happened.

Roddy McDowell plays Ted White, who joins his estranged father for a summer while in college. His father Jeffery White (Roland Winters) has held up his fishing boat to wait for his son to arrive missing prime prices and with his crew chomping at the bit to make money.

They eventually cast off with Ted on board to catch shark, whose livers have been determined to be high in Vitamin A. Ted has to borrow clothes from another crew mate, Ramon and takes a bit of hazing from some other crew members...but the real story begins when Ted's inexperienced gets both Ramon and his father Jeffery bitten and badly hurt by sharks. He makes the call for the ship to go into port without a catch in order to get medical attention for the two...something the good doctor tells Maria probably saved their lives.

Desperate to make up for the damages and earn back the lost money, Ted hires a sketchy crew who take him for the works...drugged, beaten and stolen from Ted has finally had enough. He intends to confront the miscreants on his own but is waylaid and joined by his father's crew and friends in my favorite scene of the film..."the party".

This might be a great family friendly film that can be enjoyed by all and it has some great shots of the shark catching process...particularly the hauling in and the packing of the livers in tins. Not a film that I would rewatch but kind of fun for "shark week" on TCM.