Hell and High Water (1954): Cast & Plot
Hell and High Water is a 1954 action drama directed by Samuel Fuller, starring Eugene Borden as French Reporter (uncredited), Victor Francen and Richard Widmark. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- Samuel Fuller
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Hell and High Water About?
The premise of Hell and High Water without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Twenty‑nine men and a single woman find themselves trapped aboard a submarine. A privately financed scientist enlists an ex‑Navy officer to lead an Alaskan under‑sea expedition aimed at thwarting a Red Chinese anti‑American scheme that could spark World War III. The film blends a cleverly plotted, school‑boy adventure with high‑octane submarine action and Cold‑War heroics.
Hell and High Water Themes & Keywords
· 49 tags- submarine movie
- mercenary
- japanese submarine
- submarine crew
- submarine commander
- world war two veteran
- 20th century
- 1950s
- year 1953
- father daughter relationship
- weapon
- death
+37 more Show fewer
- shot to death
- underwater
- bare chested man
- fuller and widmark
- fuller and g. evans
- secret
- back seamed stockings
- submarine
- cold war
- scientist
- island
- communist
- captain
- fistfight
- suspense
- sea battle
- battle
- violence
- u boat
- torpedo
- rifle
- machine gun
- explosion
- terrorist
- world war three
- secret mission
- mission
- u.s. navy
- naval combat
- opening action scene
- paris france
- tattoo
- secret base
- nuclear weapon
- espionage
- enemy
- assistant
Hell and High Water Cast & Characters
Eugene Borden leads the cast as French Reporter (uncredited), with Victor Francen as Prof. Montel and Richard Widmark as Capt. Adam Jones. Directed by Samuel Fuller; 25 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Samuel Fuller
- Eugene Borden as French Reporter (uncredited)
- Victor Francen as Prof. Montel
- Richard Widmark as Capt. Adam Jones
- Bella Darvi as Denise Montel
Also Starring in Hell and High Water
· 21 more- Cameron Mitchell 'Ski' Brodski
- Gene Evans Chief Holter
- Richard Loo Hakada Fujimori
- Robert Adler Welles (uncredited)
- David Wayne Tugboat Walker
- Ben Wright BBC Announcer (uncredited)
- Leslie Bradley Mr. Aylesworth (uncredited)
- John Wengraf Col. Schuman (uncredited)
- Harry Carter
- Henry Kulky McCrossin (uncredited)
- Cactus Mack
- Peter Ortiz Crewman (uncredited)
- Stephen Bekassy Neuman
- Eddie Lee
- Ron Nyman
- Beal Wong
Show all 25 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Harry Denny
- Rollin Moriyama
- Ray Stevens Crewman (uncredited)
- Don Orlando
- Frank Kumagai
More from Samuel Fuller
More films directed by Samuel Fuller, best-rated first: The Naked Kiss, The Big Red One, House of Bamboo (1955) and The Meanest Men in the West.
Hell and High Water Plot Summary
What happens in Hell and High Water from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Before the opening credits, a quiet, ominous voice-over sets the stage for a quiet crisis that blends espionage with wartime memory. The story begins with the disappearance of a renowned French scientist, Professor Montel [Victor Francen], and the troubling inference that he—along with four other Western researchers—may have defected behind the Iron Curtain. That mystery hangs in the air as a small but determined circle of international scientists, businesspeople, and policymakers pieces together what they know and what they fear. They believe a secret atomic base is being built on a northern island near Japan, and they need hard proof to halt it. Their plan centers on turning a World War II-era Japanese submarine into a tool for surveillance and, if necessary, armed confrontation.
Full summary
The whole story of Hell and High Water, scene by scene
Hell and High Water Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Hell and High Water.
How Well Do You Know Hell and High Water?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Who is the U.S. Navy submarine commander tasked with the mission?
Cars in Hell and High Water
24 cars on screen, including the 1953 Peugeot 203 Commerciale and the 1938 Standard Flying Fourteen.
-
1953 Peugeot 203 Commerciale Minor role -
1938 Standard Flying Fourteen Minor role -
1937 Austin 12/4 Taxi Background role -
1946 Buick Roadmaster Background role
Hell and High Water Also Known As
11 alternative titles, including “Inferno” and “Le Démon des eaux troubles”.
- Also known as
-
- Inferno
- Le Démon des eaux troubles
- Operazione mistero
- O Demónio dos Mares
- El diablo de las aguas turbias
- Tormenta Sob os Mares
- 地獄と高潮
- Piekielna misja
- 潜艇间谍战
- Ад в открытом море
- 헬 앤 하이 워터
Seen Hell and High Water?
Movies Like Hell and High Water
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Hell in the Pacific, Hell Boats and Hell Divers.
Hell and High Water FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Hell and High Water, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Hell and High Water?
Hell and High Water runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was Hell and High Water released?
Hell and High Water was released on February 6, 1954.
Who directed Hell and High Water?
Hell and High Water was directed by Samuel Fuller.
More films by Samuel Fuller Who is in the cast of Hell and High Water?
Hell and High Water stars Eugene Borden as French Reporter (uncredited), Victor Francen as Prof. Montel and Richard Widmark as Capt. Adam Jones, among 25 credited actors.
Does Hell and High Water have a post-credit scene?
No. Hell and High Water has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
