Back Door to Hell (1964)
68 mins | Drama | November 1964
Director:
Monte HellmanWriters:
Richard A. Guttman, John HackettProducer:
Fred RoosCinematographer:
Mars RascaEditor:
Fely CrisotomoProduction Companies:
Lippert, Inc., Medallion FilmsIn his book, Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times, author Dennis MacDougal revealed that producer Robert Lippert provided Nicholson, director Monte Hellman, and screenwriter John Hackett $160,000 and salaries of $400 per week to make two films in the Philippine Islands. The team developed the screenplays while travelling by ship through Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Japan. According to the 12 Aug 1964 Var, filming took place in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. The 22 Jan 1965 DV noted that Hellman, producer Fred Roos, and credited screenwriter Richard A. Guttman were alumni of the film department at University of California, Los Angeles.
An advertisement in the 15 Jun 1964 DV stated that principal photography was currently underway. The 7 Jul 1964 issue reported that lead actor Jimmie Rodgers agreed to appear in the film for “expense money only.” Rodgers, who was contracted to distributor Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., had already received his salary in advance, and accepted the role in order to both fulfill and sustain his contract.
Back Door to Hell opened 9 Dec 1964 in New York City and in late Jan 1965 in Los Angeles, CA. Although a review in the 10 Dec 1964 NYT dismissed the film as “a clinker,” the 27 Jan 1965 Var reported earnings of $34,000 during its opening week in Los Angeles as part of a double bill with Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964, see entry).
The picture continued in release through the summer of 1965 with openings in Seattle, WA ...
In his book, Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times, author Dennis MacDougal revealed that producer Robert Lippert provided Nicholson, director Monte Hellman, and screenwriter John Hackett $160,000 and salaries of $400 per week to make two films in the Philippine Islands. The team developed the screenplays while travelling by ship through Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Japan. According to the 12 Aug 1964 Var, filming took place in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. The 22 Jan 1965 DV noted that Hellman, producer Fred Roos, and credited screenwriter Richard A. Guttman were alumni of the film department at University of California, Los Angeles.
An advertisement in the 15 Jun 1964 DV stated that principal photography was currently underway. The 7 Jul 1964 issue reported that lead actor Jimmie Rodgers agreed to appear in the film for “expense money only.” Rodgers, who was contracted to distributor Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., had already received his salary in advance, and accepted the role in order to both fulfill and sustain his contract.
Back Door to Hell opened 9 Dec 1964 in New York City and in late Jan 1965 in Los Angeles, CA. Although a review in the 10 Dec 1964 NYT dismissed the film as “a clinker,” the 27 Jan 1965 Var reported earnings of $34,000 during its opening week in Los Angeles as part of a double bill with Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964, see entry).
The picture continued in release through the summer of 1965 with openings in Seattle, WA (3 Feb 1965 Var), Cincinnati, OH (5 May 1965 Var), and Buffalo, NY (18 Aug 1965 Var).
Copyright length: 70 minutes
In World War II, before the Allied reoccupation of the Philippines, U.S. Lieutenant Craig and two other men, Burnett and Jersey, penetrate the enemy occupation to determine the strength and position of the Japanese forces. They contact Paco, a guerrilla leader who agrees to help them, but the Japanese detect their presence and threaten to destroy a village unless the Americans surrender. Paco and his men, however, are able to capture the village. Craig then meets a local bandit who promises him information about the Japanese in exchange for his radio, but when Craig is delayed while checking the information, the impatient bandit destroys the radio and runs off. Unable to transmit his intelligence, Craig sneaks into a Japanese-held village and sends his message by enemy radio, but he and his men are apprehended. The Americans, with Paco and his guerrillas, battle with the Japanese; and Burnett, Paco, and all his men are killed. Only Craig and Jersey ...
In World War II, before the Allied reoccupation of the Philippines, U.S. Lieutenant Craig and two other men, Burnett and Jersey, penetrate the enemy occupation to determine the strength and position of the Japanese forces. They contact Paco, a guerrilla leader who agrees to help them, but the Japanese detect their presence and threaten to destroy a village unless the Americans surrender. Paco and his men, however, are able to capture the village. Craig then meets a local bandit who promises him information about the Japanese in exchange for his radio, but when Craig is delayed while checking the information, the impatient bandit destroys the radio and runs off. Unable to transmit his intelligence, Craig sneaks into a Japanese-held village and sends his message by enemy radio, but he and his men are apprehended. The Americans, with Paco and his guerrillas, battle with the Japanese; and Burnett, Paco, and all his men are killed. Only Craig and Jersey escape.
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