Manfish

Manfish

Year: 1956

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: W. Lee Wilder

Adventure

Battling aqua-lung adventure! Three deep sea divers get involved in murder while searching for a lost treasure.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Manfish (1956)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Manfish (1956). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day with flashbacks to the late 18th century (1793)

The investigation unfolds in a contemporary Caribbean setting, anchored by Warren’s extradition request in Jamaica. The professor’s backstory and the pirate map are anchored to a 1793 date found in a bottle, linking the modern plot to Lafitte-era treasure lore. The film blends detective elements with pirate-adventure motifs across two time frames.

Location

Jamaica, Hispaniola

Jamaica is the primary setting, hosting the Jamaica Constabulary Force and serving as the entry point for Inspector Warren’s investigation. The story also moves to the island of Hispaniola for the treasure hunt, tying pirate lore to present-day mystery. The Caribbean backdrop includes sea travel aboard the Manfish, a turtle-hunting voyage, and underwater discoveries like a bottle and a skeleton.

🏖️ Caribbean 🗺️ Island 🚢 Sea

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

Main Characters – Manfish (1956)

Meet the key characters of Manfish (1956), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Brannigan (John Bromfield)

A devil-may-care adventurer who wins the ship Manfish and its first mate Swede in a poker game. He thrives on risk, charm, and a taste for trouble, often dragging others into dangerous schemes. His pursuit of treasure becomes a catalyst for action and conflict.

🧭 Adventurer 🔥 Impulsive 💰 Greed

The Professor (Victor Jory)

The enigmatic antagonist wearing a skull ring. He possesses half of a Lafitte treasure map and uses intellect to protect himself while pursuing wealth. He is cautious, manipulative, and willing to betray allies to stay alive and ahead of danger.

🧠 Cunning 🗝️ Keeper 🧭 Manipulative

Warren (Jack Lewis)

A Scotland Yard inspector who travels to Jamaica to seek extradition of the Professor. He provides the procedural backbone of the story, balancing law with the lure of adventure and exposing the flaws in pirate legends.

🕵️ Detective ⚖️ Law 🗺️ Investigation

Swede (Lon Chaney Jr.)

The loyal first mate aboard the Manfish. He is practical and steady, offering a grounded perspective amid Brannigan’s reckless bravado. He witnesses the strange relics and the danger of the treasure chase, serving as a stabilizing presence.

🧭 Loyal 🗺️ Steady ⚓ Stability

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

Major Themes – Manfish (1956)

Explore the central themes of Manfish (1956), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏴‍☠️ Treasure Hunt

The pursuit of Lafitte’s treasure drives the plot forward, weaving pirate legends into a modern crime story. A torn map fragment and a skull-ring artifact symbolize how the past continues to lure the present. Brannigan’s greed and the Professor’s cunning propel the quest, creating escalating danger.

💰 Greed

Greed motivates both the Professor and Brannigan, pushing them toward riskier schemes. The tantalizing £25,000 treasure offers a stark lure that tests loyalties and ethics. Characters manipulate information and alliances to secure the prize, often at the expense of safety.

⚖️ Law

Inspector Warren embodies the rule of law, pursuing extradition while confronting pirate legends. The flashback structure pits legal procedure against outlaw adventure, highlighting tension between duty and desire. The Jamaica authorities and international pursuit shape a cross-border chase.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Treasure hunt thrillers with murderous greed like Manfish

The quest for fortune turns deadly when betrayal lurks among allies.If you enjoyed the dangerous treasure hunt and criminal intrigue in Manfish, you'll like these movies. They feature similar stories of greed-driven betrayal and murder during high-stakes adventures, offering tense and atmospheric journeys where the search for treasure is fraught with human peril.

greed-driventreacherousadventuroussuspensefuldangerousatmosphericmysterious

Narrative Summary

Movies in this thread typically follow a group of adventurers or fortune-seekers united by a common goal, but fractured by individual greed. The narrative arc involves the gradual erosion of trust, culminating in acts of betrayal or murder, set against an exotic or challenging backdrop.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core premise of a treasure hunt corrupted by human weakness. They balance the excitement of adventure with the tension of a thriller, creating a specific vibe of suspicion and peril where the greatest enemy is often a companion.

Movies with tense exotic atmospheres like Manfish

Sun-drenched settings simmer with underlying danger and criminal mystery.For viewers who liked the Caribbean setting and tense, criminal mood of Manfish, this list features films with a similar feel. Discover movies where tropical or exotic locales provide a deceptively beautiful backdrop for stories of murder, mystery, and persistent peril.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern often involves outsiders or protagonists drawn into a web of crime within a picturesque but isolated setting. The environment itself—often the sea, jungles, or remote islands—amplifies the tension, creating a feeling of being trapped with danger in paradise.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their masterful use of setting to build a specific, atmospheric vibe. The combination of a steady pace, medium intensity, and a tense tone creates a cohesive experience where the location is a key character in the suspenseful story.

Unlock the Full Story of Manfish

Don't stop at just watching — explore Manfish in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Manfish is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Manfish Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Manfish, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Manfish Summary

Manfish Timeline

Track the full timeline of Manfish with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Manfish Timeline

Manfish Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Manfish that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Manfish Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Manfish

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Manfish: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Manfish

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Discover movies like Manfish that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.