It's been a while since I saw the 1939 original "Five Came Back", but in trying to make a quick mental comparison I don't find much difference between the two pictures. Most of the characters retain the same names, the addition of youngster Tommy Malone (Jon Provost) might be one of the more significant differences. Anita Ekberg as a prostitute heading to Boca Grande comes across a bit more believable than Lucille Ball in the earlier movie. As I mentioned in my review of that one, I thought she was more of a hard luck gal than a hooker but you didn't have to read between any lines regarding Ekberg's Rena character here.
Funny, but when I saw Jesse White's name in the cast list, that became one of the draws to catching this one. I didn't think I ever actually saw the long time Maytag repair man in a movie before, but there WAS that Twilight Zone episode (Once Upon a Time) in which he previewed that role. His character here is sort of a guardian for the kid Tommy, who's father made headlines as a gangster who was shot early in the film. I don't know how that scenario had anything to do with anything, other than to make Tommy an orphan and a prime candidate to make it out of the jungle when the plane got fixed.
Most of the other characters play out the way they did in "Five Came Back" with the notable inclusion of a cat fight between Ekberg's character and Phyllis Kirk's Louise. As they tumble into a jungle pond, both players emerge laughing it up when co-pilot Joe Brooks (Keith Andes) comes on the scene. Considering how the fight started over Louise's budding romance with Joe, it didn't end up very realistic, but they must have figured the result was so outlandish they couldn't help themselves and it was just left in the story that way.
With both pictures, the struggle over who makes it out of the jungle merits kudos for dramatic writing and a thoughtful exploration of character motives. The elder Spangler couple makes a brave decision, as Rod Steiger's Vasquel decides to face the consequences of staying behind in hostile territory. One can conjure up an alternative fate for Vasquel if one so desires, but it's almost certainly his personal sacrifice that inspires the closing moments of the picture.
Funny, but when I saw Jesse White's name in the cast list, that became one of the draws to catching this one. I didn't think I ever actually saw the long time Maytag repair man in a movie before, but there WAS that Twilight Zone episode (Once Upon a Time) in which he previewed that role. His character here is sort of a guardian for the kid Tommy, who's father made headlines as a gangster who was shot early in the film. I don't know how that scenario had anything to do with anything, other than to make Tommy an orphan and a prime candidate to make it out of the jungle when the plane got fixed.
Most of the other characters play out the way they did in "Five Came Back" with the notable inclusion of a cat fight between Ekberg's character and Phyllis Kirk's Louise. As they tumble into a jungle pond, both players emerge laughing it up when co-pilot Joe Brooks (Keith Andes) comes on the scene. Considering how the fight started over Louise's budding romance with Joe, it didn't end up very realistic, but they must have figured the result was so outlandish they couldn't help themselves and it was just left in the story that way.
With both pictures, the struggle over who makes it out of the jungle merits kudos for dramatic writing and a thoughtful exploration of character motives. The elder Spangler couple makes a brave decision, as Rod Steiger's Vasquel decides to face the consequences of staying behind in hostile territory. One can conjure up an alternative fate for Vasquel if one so desires, but it's almost certainly his personal sacrifice that inspires the closing moments of the picture.