East of Sumatra

East of Sumatra is a 1953 American south seas adventure film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Jeff Chandler, Marilyn Maxwell, Anthony Quinn and Suzan Ball.[1]

East of Sumatra
Film poster by Reynold Brown
Directed byBudd Boetticher
Written byFrank Gill Jr
adaptation
Jack Natteford
Based onstory by Louis L'Amour and Jack Natteford
Produced byAlbert J. Cohen
StarringJeff Chandler
Marilyn Maxwell
Anthony Quinn
Suzan Ball
CinematographyClifford Stine
Edited byVirgil W. Vogel
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • September 23, 1953 (1953-09-23) (United States)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Duke Mullane (Jeff Chandler), manager of a Malayan tin mine, goes to a little-known island to open a new mine in the jungle. Initially, the natives are friendly, especially dancer Minyora ... who is soon to be married to local ruler King Kiang (Anthony Quinn). A series of unfortunate incidents changes Kiang's attitude to hostility, and Duke is stranded with his crew, Minyora, and his old flame Lory (Marilyn Maxwell), who is engaged to his boss.

Cast

Production

The film was based in part on a treatment by Jack Natteford and Louis L'Amour;[2] the latter, best known for his Westerns, had visited Sumatra while in the merchant marine. In his memoirs, L'Amour called it "my first motion picture":

The story was of tin mining, and made a bit of sense as written. A big company was rushing in to exploit an island, ruled by a Rajah ... He wanted a hospital, medicines, and doctor for his people. The Company wanted to get in and get the tin and get out with as little trouble as possible. The idea was good, the cast was capable – and instead of a meaningful picture, the producers or somebody turned it into a sex and jungle epic. In any jungle picture with a beautiful native girl, you can be almost be [sic] sure that before long you will find her swimming naked or nearly so in a pool, usually with a waterfall, and there the leading man comes upon her. He is often in the pool himself and it leads to what is expected to be a titillating scene. So it was in this case. The sincere young Rajah is largely forgotten; he doesn't get his medicines and his hopes and the picture go down the train.[3]

Director Budd Boetticher later described the movie as "just a fun film to make all my friends some money".[4] Filming started in November 1952.[5]

Gloria Grahame was offered the female lead but turned it down. She was replaced by Marilyn Maxwell.[6]

References
  1. Wheeler, Winston Dixon. "Budd Boetticher: The Last Interview". Film Criticism. Vol. 26, no. 3, (Spring 2002). Meadville. p. 52-0_3.
  2. Box 40, Albert J. Cohen Papers, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa. accessed 18 July 2016
  3. L'Amour, Louis (29 April 2008). Education of a Wandering Man. Random House Publishing. ISBN 9780553899085.
  4. Sean Axmaker, 'Ride Lonesome: The Career of Budd Boetticher', Senses of Cinema 7 February 2006 accessed 25 June 2012
  5. THOMAS M. PRYOR (Oct 23, 1952). "LANA TURNER GETS NEW LEADING MAN: Montalban Replaces Lamas in 'Latin Lovers' -- Studio Says It Alone Made Decision". New York Times. p. 40.
  6. THOMAS M. PRYOR (Nov 17, 1952). "COLUMBIA RAISES '53 OUTPUT TOTAL: Will Make 22 Big A Pictures -- Three New Producers From R. K. O., Warners Hired". New York Times. p. 21.
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