Maracaibo (film)

Maracaibo
Maracaibo
	Lobby card for the film
Directed by	Cornel Wilde
Written by	Ted Sherdeman ; Stirling Silliphant
Produced by	Cornel Wilde
Starring	Cornel Wilde; Jean Wallace; Abbe Lane; Francis Lederer; Michael Landon; Joe E. Ross
Cinematography	Ellsworth Fredericks
Edited by	Everett Douglas
Music by	Laurindo Almeida
Production; company	Theodora Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	May 21, 1958;
Running time	88 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Maracaibo is a 1958 American drama film directed by Cornel Wilde and written by Ted Sherdeman. The film stars Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Abbe Lane, Francis Lederer, Michael Landon and Joe E. Ross. The film was released on May 21, 1958, by Paramount Pictures.^[1]^[2]

Plot

Red Adair–type former Navy Frogman Vic Scott is on vacation in Venezuela when a huge oil fire at a well of his rich friend erupts. While romancing a newly-famous novelist from New York a colleague locates him and persuades him to help put out the blaze, just as theirs is starting.

More romance than adventure for the first two-thirds of the film, Maracaibo ultimately settles down to dramatic scenes of underwater work to extinguish the fire before a huge storm arrives. The action is interrupted from time to time to explore the romantic angle, including scenes between Abbe Lane's character and Cornel Wilde's, who were lovers only a few years prior—though she is now engaged to the rich oil baron.

Will her past be revealed? Will the New York author get her man? Will Vic Scott put out the fire near Maracaibo before it reaches the city, then finally settle down?

Cast

Cornel Wilde as Vic Scott
Jean Wallace as Laura Kingsley
Abbe Lane as Elena Holbrook
Francis Lederer as Miguel Orlando
Michael Landon as Lago Orlando
Joe E. Ross as Milt Karger
Jack Kosslyn as Raoul Palma
Lillian Buyeff as Mrs. Felicia Montera
George Ramsey as Mr. Ricardo Montera
Martín Vargas as Flamenco Dancer
Maruja as Cabaret Dancer
Carmen D'Antonio as Cabaret Dancer

Production

The film was based on a novel by Stirling Silliphant which he had written in Cuba.^[3] Film rights were bought by Universal who intended to turn it into a vehicle for Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman and Ted Sherdeman wrote a script. Cornel Wilde spotted Michael Landon on television and signed him to a three-picture contract.^[4] In September 1957 the rights went to Paramount, who gave it to Cornel Wilde's company, Theodora. Wilde would produce, direct and star.^[5]

Silliphant later called it "a perfectly dreadful, stinking film... with a screenplay that must have been written in the men's room of the Hollywood Knickerbocker."^[6]

Publicity photos for the film.

References

^ "Maracaibo (1958) – Overview". Turner Classic Movies. 1958-05-21. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
^ Hal Erickson (2016). "Maracaibo – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
^ Mann, Roderick (Oct 23, 1983). "MOVIES: SILLIPHANT PUTS DOWN AN ANCHOR IN HOLLYWOOD". Los Angeles Times. p. w26.
^ "MOVELAND EVENTS: Cornel Wilde Find Cast in 'Maracaibo'". Los Angeles Times. Sep 30, 1957. p. B7.
^ "HOLDEN TO REVIVE PRODUCTION UNIT: Star Will Reactivate Toluca Films With Two Stories-- Wilde to Do 'Maracaibo' Cornel Wilde Active". New York Times. Sep 4, 1957. p. 41.
^ Smith, Cecil (Oct 27, 1978). "TV MOVIE TURNS INTO A NOVEL: Stirling Silliphant Finds a 'Pearl' Stirling Silliphant Finds a 'Pearl'". Los Angeles Times. p. f1.