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Adventure Cult Classic

Red Cross nurses and doctors fight for survival after being kidnapped in war-torn Indochina.

FIVE GATES TO HELL

White women enslaved in war-torn Indo-China!

1959 · 1h 38m · NR · Adventure / Drama / War · IMDB TMDB

A small group of Red Cross nurses, doctors and nuns are taken hostage in Vietnam by Chinese guerillas and sent up river to a castle hideout so they can cure an ailing war general.

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Quick Answer
What is Five Gates to Hell about?

Five Gates to Hell is a 1959 American adventure, drama, and war film directed by James Clavell about a group of Red Cross nurses, doctors, and nuns taken hostage by guerrillas in French Indochina and forced to save a warlord while struggling to escape.

Synopsis

 

Guerrilla forces overtake a field hospital in French Indochina, kidnapping doctors Richter (Ken Scott) and Minelle (John Morley), as well as several nurses. Leading the captives into the jungle, guerrilla Chen Pamok (Neville Brand) forces the doctors to operate on elderly warlord Gung Sa (Benson Fong) and enslaves the women. After a firefight, nurses Athena Roberts (Dolores Michaels) and Joy Brooks (Patricia Owens) and nun Maria Phillips (Shirley Knight) try to lead the survivors to safety.

This movie is badass, and a must-see for fans of Jack Hill's Women in Prison films! This film must've been highly influential in the making of The Big Bird Cage, and The Big Doll House. Recommended to exploitation fans - WIP fans especially.

 
Details & Specs
Director
James Clavell
Writer
James Clavell
Release
1959
Runtime
1h 38m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
5 Tore zur Hölle

Why Cult

Jungle Captivity Drama

Watch as a group of nurses, doctors, and nuns are held hostage and pushed to their limits in a guerrilla-controlled jungle outpost.

Warlord Medical Dilemma

The captives are forced to perform life-saving surgery on an ailing war general, blending medical crisis with high-stakes war tension.

Women Under Fire

Red Cross nurses and nuns, including characters played by Dolores Michaels and Shirley Knight, take center stage in this survival ordeal.

Pre-Shōgun Clavell

Directed and written by James Clavell before his literary fame, this film shows his early flair for tense, multicultural conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Five Gates to Hell about? +

Five Gates to Hell follows Red Cross nurses, doctors, and nuns as they are kidnapped by guerrillas in French Indochina and must save a warlord while fighting for survival.

When was Five Gates to Hell released? +

Five Gates to Hell was released in 1959.

Who directed Five Gates to Hell? +

James Clavell directed Five Gates to Hell.

How long is Five Gates to Hell? +

Five Gates to Hell has a runtime of 98 minutes.

What genre is Five Gates to Hell? +

Five Gates to Hell is an adventure, drama, and war film.

Where can I watch Five Gates to Hell? +

You can watch Five Gates to Hell on SassyFlix.

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