Back Door to Hell
Encyclopedia
Back Door to Hell is a 1964 film concerning a three-man team of United States soldiers preparing the way for Gen. MacArthur
's World War II return to the Philippines
by destroying a Japanese communications center. It was produced on a relatively small budget and received lukewarm reviews, and is most notable as one of Jack Nicholson
's earlier roles. Hellman, Nicholson and Hackett also made the film back to back with Flight to Fury
(1964).
had a substantial part in the film, and co-financed it.
The film, directed by Monte Hellman
, was shot on location in the Philippines, giving it a particularly authentic look. The same plot was reused in Ib Melchior
's Ambush Bay
(1966) with a larger Marine patrol destroying a minefield prior to the American and Filipino invasion of the Philippines.
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's World War II return to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
by destroying a Japanese communications center. It was produced on a relatively small budget and received lukewarm reviews, and is most notable as one of Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
's earlier roles. Hellman, Nicholson and Hackett also made the film back to back with Flight to Fury
Flight to Fury
Flight to Fury is a 1964 film starring Jack Nicholson, and Dewey Martin. The film was directed by Monte Hellman and filmed back to back with Back Door to Hell in the Philippines....
(1964).
Production
Robert Lippert had been impressed by Jack Nicholson's Thunder Island so gave Nicholson and his friends Monty Hellman and John Hackett $160,000 and $400 a week salary to make two films on location in the Philippines. The three men and Hellman's wife and child travelled 28 days by ship via Hawaii, Hong Kong and Japan with the three working on the screenplays to both films on the voyage. Back Door to Hell was a rewrite on one of Lippert's existing screenplays. Popular singer Jimmie RodgersJimmie Rodgers (pop singer)
James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers is an American singer. He is not related to the country singer of the same name.-Career:...
had a substantial part in the film, and co-financed it.
The film, directed by Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman is an American film director, producer, and film editor.Hellman is among a group of directing talent mentored by Roger Corman, who produced several of the director's early films...
, was shot on location in the Philippines, giving it a particularly authentic look. The same plot was reused in Ib Melchior
Ib Melchior
Ib Jørgen Melchior is a novelist, short story writer, film producer, film director, and screenwriter of low-budget American science fiction movies, most of them released by American International Pictures...
's Ambush Bay
Ambush Bay
Ambush Bay is a 1966 war film filmed on location in the Philippines that was produced by Aubrey Schenck and released through United Artists.-Plot:...
(1966) with a larger Marine patrol destroying a minefield prior to the American and Filipino invasion of the Philippines.
Cast
- Jimmie RodgersJimmie Rodgers (pop singer)James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers is an American singer. He is not related to the country singer of the same name.-Career:...
as Lt. Craig - Jack NicholsonJack NicholsonJohn Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
as Burnett - John Hackett as Jersey
- Annabelle HugginsAnnabelle HugginsAnnabelle Huggins is a Filipino actress during the 60's who started Jack Nicholson in Back Door to Hell and later become famous when she was kidnapped by a jeepney driver named Ruben Ablaza which was made headlines.- Life and Film career :...
as Maria - Conrad Maga as Paco
- Johnny Monteiro as Ramundo
- Joe Sison as Japanese Capt.
- Henry Duval as Garde
- Ben Perez
- Vic Uematsu
External links
- original film trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhwQG--b_Uk&feature=related