Tragic presentation of John Steinbeck's novella, adapted by he, the director and Jack Wagner, hallmarked by fine performances and dazzling cinematography. Poor fisherman and wife Pedro Armendariz and Maria Elena Marquez (both great, but he particularly good) take baby, bitten by a scorpion, to obscene doctor Charles Rooner (also great) who refuses to help them as they're poor. Then the fisherman finds a valuable pearl, and all their real problems begin...
A difficult film to enjoy, as you're constantly dreading what terrible thing will happen to them next. Fernandez's direction is interesting and he and Gabriel Figueroa conjure up some extraordinary images in chiaroscuro light. Figueroa worked mainly in Mexico, though did shoot Under the Volcano, Two Mules for Sister Sarah, Kelly's Heroes and Night of the Iguana, as well as several films of Bunuel, and The Fugitive for John Ford. Director, lead actor and DP also collaborated on 1945 Maria Candelaria.
Released by RKO.
Though loved the scene with the magnifying glass:
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