Fire Down Below is an unusual film in that, based on a starry trio of Robert Mitchum, Jack Lemmon and Rita Hayworth, the film oddly elects to jettison Mitchum and Hayworth at the mid-point, with them only returning near the end. The film focuses upon Mitchum and Lemon running a dilapidated boat on smuggling operations, who elect to take the mysterious Hayworth on board and enable her to leave the country, sans passport. Inevitably, a love triangle forms, with poor monsieur Lemmon being set up by his erstwhile partner so romance can blossom. From there, it is all eyes on Lemmon, until a ship crash elicits Robert Mitchum's belated return. The film looks good, and there is a fine Hayworth dance number, but the plot meanders, and losing Robert Mitchum is a blow that the film can barely withstand. Also, the revenge aspect is somewhat softened by the fact that it is Jack Lemmon who is on the warpath. If I was told that Jack Lemmon was coming for me, I wouldn't be all that perturbed (and indeed, Robert Mitchum's character is not rattled by this news at all, especially as he gives Lemmon a right pasting earlier in the film). So, worth seeing, but not vintage Mitchum action.
Review of Fire Down Below
