Sous le ciel des tropiques

Interesting, rarely seen film that is notable for the re-teaming of Jean Hersholt and Gibson Gowland, who made such memorable enemies in Erich von Stroheim's GREED (1924). For genre fans though it is also memorable as the first screen appearance of Rondo Hatton. Filmed in Florida, Hatton was working as a reporter for the Tampa Herald at the time and was probably spotted there by director Henry King. Though Hatton's glandular condition, acromegaly, was already noticeable we can see it is not nearly as pronounced as it was in his later Universal films. Rondo has the small role of the bartender in a dusty dive in the small coastal village where the action takes place. He may or may not have any lines. In one scene where the lights go out and a murder takes place a voice cries out "He's done for!" and that MIGHT be Rondo's voice but it is hard to tell. Henry King gave Rondo that old line (which was probably a cliche even in 1930) "If you ever come to Hollywood come and see me." Well it took Hatton 7 years to make up his mind but finally he boarded a train for the west coast, leaving behind a wife who thought he was wasting his time. His first film in Hollywood was IN OLD CHICAGO (1937) also directed by Henry King. Rondo is billed 17th in the credits and listed as "bodyguard" though several people in the film call his character "Rondo". It was the start of a short but memorable career, capped by immortality in 3 Universal pictures where he played the spine snapping "Creeper". Nicely done Rondo, you lived the dream.

Henry King who was a contract director later on for 20th Century Fox and turned out some of their best films did this one for an outfit called Inspirational Pictures. The star here is Lupe Velez who by all accounts was one wild child. She plays one here in Hell Harbor.

She's the descendant of the famous pirate Henry Morgan in fact on this obscure Caribbean island everybody's a descendant of those bloodthirsty buccaneers of yore. But Lupe yearns for the big city life to be found in Havana.

Her meal ticket she sees as playboy John Holland who is arriving on his yacht and Lupe has just what he wants. Well one of the two things he wants. The other is pearls and trader Jean Hersholt has those. He also wants Lupe and Lupe's dead Gibson Gowland is quite willing to promote a marriage like that. Hersholt and Gowland have plans for Holland that don't include matrimony.

The location shooting in Tampa and surrounding environs substitute well for the Caribbean. Well it's close enough in any event. You'll also see cowboy sidekick Al St.John in an unusual non-western role as one of the island denizens. But of course there's the seductive Lupe Velez who got everyone's 1930 mojo going. Also unusual to see Jean Hersholt who is best remembered as the kindly Dr. Christian in a villainous part.

What Lupe Velez had never goes out of style.

"Hell Harbor" is an early talkie and it feels like it. The script is stilted and unfocused. The best part of the film is when Lupe Velez (as Anita Morgan) sings.

Unfortunately, the quality of the print I saw was very rough, with skips in both the video and audio. Some dialogue--no matter how inept--was difficult to hear.

Much of the acting is over the top. The story is very simple. And with little character development, the motivations of the characters are ambiguous. Having little to work with, the actors abilities are not showcased well.

The only real plot concerns Anita's desire to go to Havana. But her father plans to sell her (in marriage) to a coarse local who entices him with pearls.

This film begins on a remote island somewhere in the Caribbean Sea with a lecherous man by the name of "Joseph Horngold" (Jean Hersholt) owning the local trading post and seeking to buy a beautiful woman named "Anita Morgan" (Lupe Velez) as a wife from her ill-tempered and destitute father "Henry Morgan" (Gibson Gowland). Anita, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with Joseph Horngold and seeks to take whatever measures she can to prevent the marriage at all costs. It's then that a young sea captain named "Bob Wade" (John Holland) arrives in Hell Harbor and after one look Anita is immediately attracted to him. Of course, the fact that he can deprive Joseph Horngold of the money he needs to buy her from her father also figures into her considerations as well. In any case, he soon unwittingly becomes a central player in Anita's plan to find happiness and she is willing to do whatever it takes in that regard. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an extremely old film which definitely shows its age in all departments. It was also rather boring. That being said, I generally overlook certain faults in older films of this type due to my belief that one should not hold it to the same standards of today. But it was difficult for me to ignore the incredibly slow pace and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

Early talkie boasts of the degenerate barfly Gibson Gowland (from "GREED") and the lovely Lupe Velez (the Mexican Spitfire)as his daughter. Luminous location photography and distinctive sound recording overshadow the stodgy dialogue. The acting is good but overstated. Lupe is beautiful but overdoes the cuteness, like a 30's version of Sandra Bullock.