The writer/producer Budd Schulberg is responsible for this story about the Audubon Society's battle with exotic bird poachers in the Florida Everglades. Nicholas Ray directed most of it, but was canned by Schulberg towards the end of the shoot and barred from the editing room.
Christopher Plummer is the marshal for the Audubon Society and Burt Ives is the leader of the poachers. These are a couple of very strong actors playing against each other. They have some good scenes together including a memorable drinking contest during a hurricane which is probably a little over the top.
The film has a good sense of location, with some excellent photography of the Everglades and the wildlife. The film also has an unusual supporting cast along with Ives and Plummer. Peter Falk is one of the poachers, Gypsy Rose Lee the madam of the local whore house. Emmet Kelly the famous clown is also in it along with the author MacKinley Kantor.
An honest attempt to discuss ecological issues vs rights of the individual, the film kind of loses it way towards the end, but still stays very interesting overall.
93 minutes.
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