Run for the Sun
Encyclopedia
Run for the Sun is a 1956 film released by United Artists
, the third film to officially be based on Richard Connell
's classic suspense story, "The Most Dangerous Game
", after RKO's The Most Dangerous Game
(1932), which starred Joel McCrea
and Fay Wray
, and their (1945) remake, A Game of Death
, which was directed by Robert Wise
. This version stars Trevor Howard
as the hunter and Richard Widmark
as the prey, and was directed by Ray Boulting from a script written by Boulting and Dudley Nichols
.
) is the wealthy reclusive man who enjoys hunting down human beings like wild game. In this adaptation, Browne is transformed into a British traitor, hiding in the Mexican jungle with his fellow Nazi war criminal and brother-in-law, Colonel Von Andre (Peter van Eyck
). When their plane is forced to land in Browne's domain, writer Mike Latimer (Richard Widmark
) and reporter Katy Conners (Jane Greer
) are welcomed as guests. However, when Latimer finally recognizes his host and realizes he and Katy are in danger, he and Katy escape to the jungle with Browne and Von Andre in hot pursuit with their hunting dogs.
. In the 1980s, the principal house and several other buildings were restored and turned into a hotel. The interior and patio of the house used in the film, as well as the interior of the small hotel where Katy Connors and Mike Latimer meet, were built at Estudios Churubusco
in Mexico City
. The house interior was reputed to be the largest set yet built in a Mexican studio.
Run for the Sun was one of four films produced for United Artists release by a company owned by actress Jane Russell
and her then-husband, Robert Waterfield.
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, the third film to officially be based on Richard Connell
Richard Connell
Richard Edward Connell Jr. was an American author and journalist, probably best remembered for his short story "The Most Dangerous Game". Connell was one of the most popular American short story writers of his time and his stories appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and Collier's Weekly...
's classic suspense story, "The Most Dangerous Game
The Most Dangerous Game
"The Most Dangerous Game", also published as "The Hounds of Zaroff", is a short story by Richard Connell. It was published in Collier's Weekly on January 19, 1924....
", after RKO's The Most Dangerous Game
The Most Dangerous Game (film)
The Most Dangerous Game is a 1932 Pre-Code adaptation of the 1924 short story of the same name by Richard Connell, the first film version of that story. The plot concerns a big game hunter on an island who chooses to hunt humans for sport. The film stars Joel McCrea, Leslie Banks, and King Kong...
(1932), which starred Joel McCrea
Joel McCrea
Joel Albert McCrea was an American actor whose career spanned 50 years and appearances in over 90 films.-Early life:...
and Fay Wray
Fay Wray
Fay Wray was a Canadian-American actress most noted for playing the female lead in King Kong...
, and their (1945) remake, A Game of Death
A Game of Death
A Game of Death is a 1945 film directed by Robert Wise. It is a remake of Richard Connell's short story, The Most Dangerous Game, about a madman who hunts human prey on his personal island habitat...
, which was directed by Robert Wise
Robert Wise
Robert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
. This version stars Trevor Howard
Trevor Howard
Trevor Howard , born Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith, was an English film, stage and television actor.-Early life:...
as the hunter and Richard Widmark
Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
as the prey, and was directed by Ray Boulting from a script written by Boulting and Dudley Nichols
Dudley Nichols
Dudley Nichols was an American screenwriter who first came to prominence after winning and refusing the screenwriting Oscar for The Informer in 1936....
.
Plot
Browne (Trevor HowardTrevor Howard
Trevor Howard , born Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith, was an English film, stage and television actor.-Early life:...
) is the wealthy reclusive man who enjoys hunting down human beings like wild game. In this adaptation, Browne is transformed into a British traitor, hiding in the Mexican jungle with his fellow Nazi war criminal and brother-in-law, Colonel Von Andre (Peter van Eyck
Peter van Eyck
Peter van Eyck, born Götz von Eick , was a German-American actor.-Biography:...
). When their plane is forced to land in Browne's domain, writer Mike Latimer (Richard Widmark
Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
) and reporter Katy Conners (Jane Greer
Jane Greer
Jane Greer was a film and television actress who was perhaps best known for her role as femme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir Out of the Past.-Career:...
) are welcomed as guests. However, when Latimer finally recognizes his host and realizes he and Katy are in danger, he and Katy escape to the jungle with Browne and Von Andre in hot pursuit with their hunting dogs.
Cast
- Richard WidmarkRichard WidmarkRichard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
as Michael Latimer - Trevor HowardTrevor HowardTrevor Howard , born Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith, was an English film, stage and television actor.-Early life:...
as Browne - Jane GreerJane GreerJane Greer was a film and television actress who was perhaps best known for her role as femme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir Out of the Past.-Career:...
as Katherine Connors - Peter van EyckPeter van EyckPeter van Eyck, born Götz von Eick , was a German-American actor.-Biography:...
as Dr. Van Anders / Colonel Von Andre - Juan García
- José Antonio Carbajal
- José Chavez Trowe
- Guillermo Calles
- Margarito Luna
- Guillermo Bravo Sosa
- Enedina Díaz de León
Production
The jungle sequences were shot about fifty miles from Acapulco, Mexico. The location used for Browne and Van Anders' base was a vast, ruined, 16th century hacienda and sugar plantation/refinery built by Hernán Cortes at Atlacomulco, southeast of CuernavacaCuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
. In the 1980s, the principal house and several other buildings were restored and turned into a hotel. The interior and patio of the house used in the film, as well as the interior of the small hotel where Katy Connors and Mike Latimer meet, were built at Estudios Churubusco
Estudios Churubusco
Estudios Churubusco is one of the oldest and largest movie studios in Latin America located in the Churubusco neighborhood of Mexico City.It was inaugurated in 1945 after a 1943 agreement between RKO and Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. The house interior was reputed to be the largest set yet built in a Mexican studio.
Run for the Sun was one of four films produced for United Artists release by a company owned by actress Jane Russell
Jane Russell
Jane Russell was an American film actress and was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s....
and her then-husband, Robert Waterfield.