Krakatoa: East of Java (1968)

Director: Bernard L. Kowalski

Starring: Maximilian Schell, Diane Baker, Brian Keith

In 1883, ship captain Hanson plans a shipwreck salvage mission in The Dutch East Indies to retrieve a cargo of pearls but an unexpected volcano eruption and a state-ordered transport of convicts upset his plans.

Against his will Captain Hansen – or should I say Captain Handsome! – is required to take 30 prisoners to Krakatoa. One of the convicts, Lester, used to work on a boat with Hansen. Among the passengers is Rigby, the designer of a diving bell, who takes along his prototype.

Hansen is after a shipwreck. His mistress, Laura Travis, informs him of a fortune’s worth of pearls in the wreck. Her husband – who took her son Peter and the pearls – was on the ship when it sunk during a storm. And so a handful of people go on a treasure hunt in search of the wreck. There’s also a diver, Harry Connerly and his opera singer mistress Charley, Giovannia and his son Leoncavallo (who take along a hot air balloon), and four female Japanese divers. I enjoyed all the different characters. Hansen is such a charming man!

I absolutely loved the treasure hunt element and the call to adventure. There’s loads of action after the halfway mark. The effects during the volcano eruption were really good – considering these were mostly practical effects, and models. In general, ‘Krakatoa: East of Java’ is a remarkably well made film for its time.

My only disappointment was the film’s score, which was too orchestral and loud. Some of the sound effects were also almost overbearing. But then again, that’s the 60’s for you! I had a great time with this exciting disaster film.

‘Krakatoa: East of Java’ received an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. Well deserved!

Would I watch it again? Yes.