Mozambique (1964)

James Dean in Giant (1956), Clark Gable in The Misfits (1961), Spencer Tracy in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), John Wayne in The Shootist (1976), and Peter Finch in Network (1976). Some stars went out with final films that are as memorable as their legacies. While screen heartthrob Steve Cochran never achieved icon status, his swan song is nevertheless impressive. The skinternational flick Mozambique (1964) is known for its exotic location and for being the last picture Steve appeared in before his untimely death. Under the direction of Robert Lynn, the action movie follows an American pilot named Brad Webster (Cochran) who decides to help the Portuguese police with their attempts to stop a cartel of criminals smuggling drugs through Mozambique en route from Lisbon to Zanzibar. Along the way, we encounter Carl (George Leech), Christina (Vivi Bach), Commarro (Paul Hubschmid), Da Silva (Martin Benson), Henderson (Dietmar Schönherr), Ilona Valdez (Hildegard Knef), and Mr. Cochran’s fab flesh! In one scene, the topless talent struts his stuff on the beach while donning a pair of red bathing trunks. As such, we get to glance at Steve’s hairy chest as he begins to kiss his lucky leading lady on camera. Behind the scenes, Cochran was a well-known womanizer. He actually passed away from an acute lung infection after setting off on a yacht manned by a cute female crew. According to the story, the seaman was dead for a week before the boat was found drifting in the Pacific Ocean. What a stiffy!