Samar (1962)

Set in the Philippines in 1870 when it was still under the control of Spain. Spain used the island of Samar as a penal colony for unwanted political prisoners. An American doctor (George Montgomery) is sent to the island as punishment for participating in a duel. The island's commandant (Gilbert Roland) plots to take the island's small population on a dangerous trek to freedom deep in the jungle's recesses. Directed by George Montgomery, who also had a hand with the script. It's an agreeable adventure film if not very fresh or original but it was shot on location in the Philippines which gives it some authenticity. The film suffers from the monotonous coverage of the trek from various angles throughout the movie. The people and the animals march and march and march at a funereal pace and the camera lingers over them. Yawn! With Joan O'Brien, Ziva Rodann and Nico Minardos.