A tough, hard-driving business tycoon suffers a broken leg and is left to die in the desert by his scheming wife and her greedy lover.A tough, hard-driving business tycoon suffers a broken leg and is left to die in the desert by his scheming wife and her greedy lover.A tough, hard-driving business tycoon suffers a broken leg and is left to die in the desert by his scheming wife and her greedy lover.
Robert Adler
- Ken - Ranch Hand
- (uncredited)
Harry Carter
- Deputy Fred Parks
- (uncredited)
Everett Glass
- Mason, Carson's Butler
- (uncredited)
James Gonzalez
- Hotel Guest
- (uncredited)
Adrienne Marden
- Emory's Secretary
- (uncredited)
Barbara Pepper
- Waitress
- (uncredited)
Charles Tannen
- Police Radio Broadcaster
- (uncredited)
Dan White
- Lee - Ranch Hand
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I saw this movie when I was maybe 8 or 9 years old. All I remember about it is that it was about a man (Robert Ryan) with the unusual and most unfortunate position of being stranded in a desert (a real inferno) and at the same time being hunted down by a cheating wife and her murderous lover. Ryan delivers a top notch performance in this suspenseful and highly dramatic film. This is a very good and satisfying movie.
Inferno is a small but excellent 1953 film about a beautiful woman (Rhonda Fleming) and her lover (William Lundigan) who leave the woman's husband (Robert Ryan) alone in the desert with a broken leg, assuming he'll croak. The story focuses on Ryan's character trying to survive in the desert and what he learns about himself.
With gorgeous Rhonda Fleming in the movie, it's done in color. A chimpanzee could have played her part - there's precious little acting involved - but she certainly adds tremendous beauty to the production. She and another spectacular redhead, Arlene Dahl, both were getting larger roles in films at the time the studio system was winding down. Ten years earlier, they might have ruled the world. William Lundigan is appropriately cold-blooded as her horny lover, and Larry Keating is an appropriately concerned business associate.
But this is Ryan's film, and he's top-notch. His thoughts come over as voice-over, and you're pulling for him every step of the way, despite everyone describing him as unpleasant.
Excellent film, quite a surprise.
With gorgeous Rhonda Fleming in the movie, it's done in color. A chimpanzee could have played her part - there's precious little acting involved - but she certainly adds tremendous beauty to the production. She and another spectacular redhead, Arlene Dahl, both were getting larger roles in films at the time the studio system was winding down. Ten years earlier, they might have ruled the world. William Lundigan is appropriately cold-blooded as her horny lover, and Larry Keating is an appropriately concerned business associate.
But this is Ryan's film, and he's top-notch. His thoughts come over as voice-over, and you're pulling for him every step of the way, despite everyone describing him as unpleasant.
Excellent film, quite a surprise.
I was born the year this picture was made, 1953. I had no idea who Robert Ryan was until a few months ago. What a tremendous actor he was! and Inferno is one of his best! The man never got the recognition he deserved and today he's an unknown to most.
The 3D is exceptional on the DVD even when viewing in 2D which I tried. The Technicolor saturated colors which were a staple of 50's films is amazing. One scene with Ronda Fleming in a purple evening dress with her lover William Lundigan in a deep blue suit just pop out of the screen, they are so vibrant. These 2 characters were despicable adulterers who setup and planned a way to leave Ryan to die in the desert. He survives the hard elements of the desert, meeting many tough events. It moves fast, the cinematography, especially in the desert is outstanding. By all means see it! Highly Recommended!
The 3D is exceptional on the DVD even when viewing in 2D which I tried. The Technicolor saturated colors which were a staple of 50's films is amazing. One scene with Ronda Fleming in a purple evening dress with her lover William Lundigan in a deep blue suit just pop out of the screen, they are so vibrant. These 2 characters were despicable adulterers who setup and planned a way to leave Ryan to die in the desert. He survives the hard elements of the desert, meeting many tough events. It moves fast, the cinematography, especially in the desert is outstanding. By all means see it! Highly Recommended!
I think Robert Ryan is one of the greatest actors of his time and its a shame that he seems to be forgotten in todays movie society, This is am excellent example of Ryans acting prowess and shows how the will to live is so strong despite being betrayed and abandoned in a place with out hope. I would say this is a must see for people interested in Robert Ryans acting and his excellent ability to make it all seem so real. I like the fact that he never gives up despite all the odds thrown against him when adultery alone makes most people lose the will to carry on. I have seen this movie twice now and have been riveted to the TV both times. Years ago having seen Robert Ryan in a few movies I thought he was OK but this movie proves he was much more than that and I look forward to discovering him in his other movies I have yet to see.
This exciting thriller packs a punch as a cheating wife (Rhonda Fleming) and her scheming lover (William Lundigan) purposely abandon her husband with a broken leg in the middle of the Mojave Desert without transportation or supplies. But they're not clever enough by half...as they start their premature gloating and plans to spend his money, the determined husband (grittily played by Robert Ryan) refuses to die and slowly makes his hate-filled way to a spectacular revenge.
Did you know
- TriviaWhen the cast and crew arrived at the Mojave Desert location, it was covered in snow and Rhonda Fleming subsequently developed pneumonia.
- GoofsEarly in the movie, after Robert Ryan has put a splint on his broken leg (which continues to cause him a lot of pain), he takes a small branch and breaks it over the injured leg, seemingly without feeling any pain.
- Quotes
Donald Whitley Carson III: [after finding water in a cactus] This stuff's a great discovery. Just sit there and work on it all day and you can get enough juice to sit there and work on it all day.
- Alternate versionsAlso shown in a 3D version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in A New Dimension in Noir: Filming Inferno in (2017)
- How long is Inferno?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Verhängnisvolle Spuren
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,055,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 23m(83 min)
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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