To me, this movie is perfection.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

A handsome looking early Cinemascope/colour romantic adventure story is probably about all that makes MGM's GREEN FIRE (1954) an entertaining enough movie. Produced by Armand Deutsch it was routinely written by the usually more astute Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and directed without an awful lot of spark by Andrew Marton. However it did have its compensations in Paul Vogel's spirited Cinematography and a stunning score by Miklos Rozsa.Starring in the film was a mixed bag of talent! Stewart Granger and Paul Douglas are a pair of Emerald miners prospecting in the hills of Colombia. And Grace Kelly is a neighbourhood coffee planter who Granger has the hots for. The thinly plotted adventure also has some local bandits headed by the infamous El Moro (Murvin Vye) who, of course, wants any and all of the yet unearthed green stones for himself leading to an action filled finale.Although a constantly busy actor Stewart Granger never did have a hugely distinguished career in film. Appearing in a number of unmemorable British films in the forties the London born actor landed himself the lead in Metro's "King Solomines Mines" in 1950 followed by a contract with the studio where - with the exception of the fine swashbuckler "Scaremouche" (1952) and "The Wild North" (1951) - he continued on his merry way of churning out a load of indifferent pictures (including a most unfortunate and ill advised attempt at a western in 1957 called "Gun Glory"). Also Grace Kelly was, to my mind, a quite unremarkable actress! She never really impressed me like she did the public in general. Her role here in GREEN FIRE is tame and forgetful which is probably due to her part being so poorly written. Nevertheless in GREEN FIRE she is quite unimpressive! Two years later the lady would star in MGM's "The Swan" (1956) the story about a girl being groomed to marry a crown prince. The actress then retired from films and did exactly that - becoming a real life princess. How about that?? But Paul Douglas is the most curious bit of casting! He simply doesn't suit the part of the intrepid adventurer! Always a very likable character actor Douglas was more at home in urban dramas and light comedies.The film's most tangible aspect is Miklos Rozsa's music! It is also something of a curiosity! GREEN FIRE is the great composer's most tuneful score and it actually has a theme song which is a great departure for Rozsa. He always had an aversion to theme songs and under no circumstances did he ever wish to go down the Dimitri Tiomkin road. So what ever possessed him to have his pivotal and quite beautiful main theme - with lyrics by Jack Brooks - sung over the titles is anyone's guess! That said, the chorus performing the song do an admirable job and their effort strikingly and vividly adds an attractive harmonic flourish to the piece. Also, with the picture being set in Colombia the music has an engaging Latin flavour and there are plenty of indigenous folk tunes mixed through Rozsa's lovely score. The highlight of the score (and the movie) is the brilliant, exciting and intense cue that comes towards the end for the picture's climax where the composer uses an ingenious, frantic and rhythmic clock ticking sound in the orchestra for the build-up of tension as Granger sets the timer on the explosives charge that will literally bring down the mountain on the marauding bandits.GREEN FIRE is by no means a great movie but with lovely Cinemascope Cinematography, a spectacular mountain avalanche and a great Rozsa score there are, I suppose, worse ways to spend 100 minutes!

Stewart Granger is Rian Mitchell, who finds the famous lost mine which is supposed to be just filled with emeralds, thus the name of the film, "Green Fire", from MGM. At first, his partner Vic (Paul Douglas ) isn't interested, and just wants to take a regular job in Canada, but ends up staying. At one point, to try to win money, Rian plays a game called Tejo, which seems to be a game of aim. One pitches a disk at a sandbox, which contains a small ball of clay which has a bullet or some explosive under it; you know you have hit it right on the head when it explodes and bursts into the air. Of course, the explosives are handled by a young kid..... where is Child Protective Services ? I looked up the game up on yahoo.com, and it seems to be a real game in Columbia. The miners get intertwined with the American owners of a plantation, as well as with Father Ripero (Robert Tafur) who seems to be on their side, bandits, and of course, a mariachi band, which was quite talented - couldn't find them listed in cast or music/sound credits... too bad. This story is quite similar to "Elephant Walk" (Paramount studios), which also came out in 1954 - Americans travel to foreign land, and take on nature. Not bad... better than I thought it would be. Filmed in cinemascope, ratio of 2.55 to 1, so it's shown in letterbox on TCM.

This film only captures the audience because of Grace Kelly (Catherine Knowland),"The Swan",'56, who is very charming and magnetic through out the entire picture and is well matched with actor Stewart Granger,(Rian X Mitchell),"King Solomon's Mines",'50, these two great actors make this a classic film because of their great talents. Paul Douglas(Vic Leonard),"The Maggie",'54 gave a very interesting and supportive role. The director of this film, Andrew Marton was very famous for many great productions like, "Sea Hunt",'58(TV Series) with L.Bridges,Sr, and King Solomon's Mines,'50. If you adored Grace Kelly, you will like this picture!

By far, the cast overshadows this routine action/adventure tale of a duo of soldiers of fortune seeking emeralds in Columbia. Kelly seems out of place as the young maiden running a coffee plantation, who eventually confronts Granger over labor and water rights. The location shots are of interest, and Granger and Douglas do the best they can with the script. Hackneyed ending provides no surprises.