A young American advocate at law called Hamlin : Dale Robertson goes to island Haiti 1802 to meet Lydia Bailey : Anne Francis in order to settle her inheritance . Meanwhile , there takes place a revolution led by the ex-slave Francois Toussain Loverture , the new black leader who abolished the cruel slavery , and subsequently the poweful king Jacobo I of Haiti . Later on , the French navy commanded by General Leclerc disembarks on the island along with his wife Paulina Bonaparte , Napoleon's sister . While the Boston lawyer supported by a tough rebel called king Dick : William Marshall attempting to help the Haitians against the invading French .
This is a historical drama about Haiti's struggles for independence from Napoleonic France with a loving triangle , passion , emotion , escapes , jungle pursuits , battles and voodoo dancing . The picture based on the novel with the same title written by Kenneth Roberts has an interesting historical background about Haiti independence , as the Caribbean island is war-torn in the strife between the Haitians and the French , including historic roles as the notorious leader Toussian , Paulina Bonaparte and his husband General Lecrerc who attempted to retake possesion of the country . It stars Dale Robertson as the lawyer who looks for the client's daughter living on the revolution-torn Haiti and with whom falls in love , she is the gorgeous Anne Francis , unforgettable in Forbidden Planet . Support cast is pretty good such as Charles Korwin , William Marshall , and brief appearances from Robert Evans , Roy Glenn as Mirabaeau and Juanita Moore .
Colorful cinematography in Technicolor by Harry Jackson , shot in Calabasas , California and Ranch Twentieth Century Fox . Evocative production design and art direction from Lyle Wheeler , Paul Fox and Thomas Little , adding excessive matte painting . Thrilling as well as emotive musical score by the classy composer Hugo Friedhofer .The motion picture was well directed by Jean Negulesco . He was a filmmaker of both popular , polished entertainments , as well as critically acclaimed and he directed all kinds of genres with penchant for musical , drama and comedy . As he realized various dramatic films in the 1940s and 1950s . He helmed a realist war drama : Three came home with Claudette Colbert , a WWII film: The conspirators with Hedy Lamar , Paul Henreid , and made his version of sinking Titanic 1953 with Barbara Stanwick and the hit : Johnny Belinda .Subsequently , he directed : Humoresque , Road house and a remake : The rains of Ranchipur with Richard Burton and Lana Turner , the comedy : How to marry with a millionaire with Marilyn Monroe , Betty Grable ; the colorful movie : Boy on a dolphin with Sophia Loren , Alan Ladd and the musical movies : Daddy long legs 1955 with Fred Astaire and Three coins in the fountain ; furthermore , a Bette Davis vehicle : Phone call from a stranger . His last and unknown films were dramedy as The pleasure seekers, The invincible sex and Hello goodbye . Being his most successful and prestigious movie : Mask of Dimitrios with Peter Lorre .
