Interesting, rarely seen film that is notable for the re-teaming of Jean Hersholt and Gibson Gowland, who made such memorable enemies in Erich von Stroheim's GREED (1924). For genre fans though it is also memorable as the first screen appearance of Rondo Hatton. Filmed in Florida, Hatton was working as a reporter for the Tampa Herald at the time and was probably spotted there by director Henry King. Though Hatton's glandular condition, acromegaly, was already noticeable we can see it is not nearly as pronounced as it was in his later Universal films. Rondo has the small role of the bartender in a dusty dive in the small coastal village where the action takes place. He may or may not have any lines. In one scene where the lights go out and a murder takes place a voice cries out "He's done for!" and that MIGHT be Rondo's voice but it is hard to tell. Henry King gave Rondo that old line (which was probably a cliche even in 1930) "If you ever come to Hollywood come and see me." Well it took Hatton 7 years to make up his mind but finally he boarded a train for the west coast, leaving behind a wife who thought he was wasting his time. His first film in Hollywood was IN OLD CHICAGO (1937) also directed by Henry King. Rondo is billed 17th in the credits and listed as "bodyguard" though several people in the film call his character "Rondo". It was the start of a short but memorable career, capped by immortality in 3 Universal pictures where he played the spine snapping "Creeper". Nicely done Rondo, you lived the dream.
Review of Hell Harbor
