Mara Maru

Gregory Mason (Errol Flynn) is a salvage diver in post-war Manila. His business partner and war buddy Andy Callahan is a drunk. Andy's wife Stella is tired of it. Andy claims to have a treasure and cuts him out as a partner. Gregory's properties get ransacked. Andy turns up dead and Gregory is the main suspect. Soon, rich local Brock Benedict (Raymond Burr) wants to hire him to look for the treasure.

I had hoped for better as the movie moves pass the first act. It seems ready to get going but something is holding it back. Raymond Burr has a threatening presence but his character is rarely that threatening. There is some bad Filipino acting. While I applaud the inclusiveness, it's not enough to get just anybody. The last act has some fun action but it comes and it goes. The storm is great backdrop but it only works in the tank. The underwater work needs more tension. There are great moments but the sequencing is a little wrong. Manuelo stumbling to the church is actually a great visual scene. It might be better to leave that being the ending. At times, the movie struggles with its melodramatic B-movie sensibilities.