Hell Below Zero
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Original Theatrical Poster
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Country
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UK USA
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Directed by
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Mark Robson
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Release Date
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1954
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Studio
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Warwick Film Productions
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Main Cast
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Character
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Actor
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Duncan Craig
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Alan Ladd
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Judie Nordhal
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Joan Tetzel
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Bland
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Basil Sydney
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Erik Bland
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Stanley Baker
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Capt. McPhee
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Joseph Tomelty
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Dr. Howe
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Niall MacGinnis
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Gerda Petersen
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Jill Bennett
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Hell Below Zero is a British-American 1954 adventure movie directed by Mark Robson and starring Alan Ladd. The movie is based on the novel "The White South" (1949) by Hammond Innes. The story is set on whaling ships in Antarctic waters. The captain of a factory ship is lost overboard in mysterious circumstances. His daughter Judie Nordahl (Joan Tetzel) decides to investigate the accident. She is assisted by Duncan Craig (Alan Ladd), former Navy officer and a new mate on the whaling ship Southern Truce.
The following weapons were used in the film Hell Below Zero:
Revolvers
Colt New Service
Erik Bland (Stanley Baker), skipper of Kista Dan, owns a Colt New Service. Bland gives the revovler to his henchman Larsen (Ivan Craig) who is in turn disarmed by Duncan Craig (Alan Ladd).
Colt New Service Revolver - .45 ACP
Bland threatens survivors from sunken
Southern Truce.
A closer view of the revolver.
Larsen holds the revolver, guarding the whalers.
Larsen is scalded by boiling coffee.
Duncan Craig, with the revolver in hand, leans over wounded radioman Ulvik (
Edward Hardwicke).
Craig fires towards Bland's tent.
Craig holds the revolver while searching Bland's tent.
Erik Bland holds his Colt on a promotional image.
Duncan Craig (
Alan Ladd) with the revolver in hand and Judie Nordhal (Joan Tetzel) on a promotional image.
Rifles
Sporterized Pattern 1914 Enfield
Larsen (Ivan Craig) is armed with a Sporterized Pattern 1914 Enfield (or M1917 Enfield) rifle. Then Erik Bland (Stanley Baker) takes the rifle from Larsen, giving him his Colt.
Sporterized Pattern M1914 (P 14) Enfield - .303 UK
Larsen holds the rifle at the background.
Bland with Larsen's rifle.
The rifle has the original front sight of the military gun.
A crewmember of
Southern Truce holds same rifle, taken from Bland's tent (this P14 Sporter switches from a
Lee-Speed Sporter (see below) that was found in Bland's tent).
Duncan Craig (
Alan Ladd) with the sporterized P14 on a promotional image. He doesn't hold this rifle in the movie.
Lee-Speed Sporter
Survivors from Southern Truce find a Lee-Speed Sporter rifle in Eric Bland's tent. Duncan Craig (Alan Ladd) takes this rifle, later is it seen in hands of Erik Bland (Stanley Baker) instead of previously used sporterized Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* due to a continuity error.
Two well preserved specimens of Lee-Speed Sporters - .303 British. The rifle on top matches the screen gun.
The barrel of the rifle in empty Bland's tent.
Craig examines the gun and finds out that it's empty.
As Bland runs out of ammo, he uses the rifle as a club in final fight with Craig.
Duncan Craig (
Alan Ladd) with the Lee-Speed Sporter and Judie Nordhal (Joan Tetzel) on a promotional image.
Sporterized Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*
During the final confrontation Erik Bland (Stanley Baker) uses a sporterized rifle. The shape and position of the bolt and ajustable sight allow to identify the base model as Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*. The rifle lacks typical protruding magazine, so it appears to be a 5-shot version (such sporters were made, for instance, by Parker-Hale).
Sporterized Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* - .303 British. Unlike this sample, the screen gun lacks the magazine and has shorter handguard.
Bland escapes on skis, carrying the rifle.
In next moment his rifle looks different, lacking the ajustable rear sight. In the following scene Bland again holds the rifle with rear sight on place.
Bland fires. In this scene the rifle fires a series of gunshots while Bland doesn't operates the bolt handle. The muzzle smoke looks very faint; all this allow to guess that the rifle doesn't fire but uses pyrotechnical charges to imitate shooting.
A good view of the rear sight.
Now Bland operates the bolt, unlike previous moment. In next scene this rifle switches to a
Lee-Speed Sporter.
Erik Bland (
Stanley Baker) holds the rifle on a promotional image.
Trivia
Harpoon Cannon
A harpoon cannon is mounted on Southern Truce. This is a 90mm Kongsberg model, one of the most widely used harpoon cannons throughout the world.
Gerda Petersen (Jill Bennett), the skipper of
Southern Truce, shows the harpoon cannon to Duncan Craig.
The harpoon cannon in action (in this scene Jill Bennett is replaced with a male stunt double).
Craig at the harpoon cannon.
Dr. Howe (Niall MacGinnis) fires the harpoon cannon at the crates with dynamite on the top deck of
Kista Dan that goes to ram
Southern Truce.