Supelice Dreadfully Boring

Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Paynbob It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

seymourblack-1 Despite an all-star cast and having a well-respected director, a multi-Oscar-winning cinematographer and the legendary Miklos Rosza on board, this crime drama didn't win much favour with either the public or the critics at the time of its initial release. This was probably because its inconsistent pacing makes it lose impetus at certain points. In other respects, however, it's very entertaining with an intriguing plot, a collection of shady characters and a spectacular finale.Based on a story by Frederick Nebel, it focuses on the moral dilemma that an honourable guy faces when the temptations of a beautiful woman and a financial bribe make him question his own integrity which he'd always previously taken for granted.Rigby (Robert Taylor) is a U.S. Federal Agent who's sent to the island of Carlota off the coast of Central America to investigate a racket involving the theft of military surplus equipment and the subsequent smuggling of aircraft motors to South America. The perpetrators are known to be making millions of dollars in profits and initially, the only known suspects are ex-World War 11 pilot, Tug Hintten (John Hodiak) and his wife Elizabeth (Ava Gardner). On arrival at Los Trancos (a popular fishing town), Rigby makes his way to a café called "Pedro's" where he wastes no time in getting to know Elizabeth who works there as a singer. The couple's friendship quickly develops into a romance and surprisingly, the often inebriated Tug doesn't seem too concerned.Rigby becomes curious about a dishevelled-looking man with bad feet who seems to be everywhere he goes and later comes to suspect that J.J. Bealer (Charles Laughton), has some connection with a mine owner called Carwood (Vincent Price) who Rigby had first met on the plane when he was flying down to Carlota. Hoping to find some clues about Carwood's possible involvement in the smuggling racket, Rigby goes on a fishing trip with him and is lucky to escape with his life after falling into the sea after Carwood causes the boat to jerk forward suddenly. Rigby only survives due to the bravery of the boatman Emilio Gomez (Tito Renaldo) who's tragically killed in the act of rescuing him.Following this incident, Rigby visits Emilio's father who tells him that Carwood is the mastermind of the racket and this causes Rigby to consider what his next move should be. His duty is to report his findings to his superiors but because Bealer's offered him a substantial bribe and he's unsure whether Elizabeth is guilty of any crimes, his immediate inclination is to take the money and use it to escape the island with the woman he loves. The surprising events that follow then suddenly change everything.The movie's tropical setting brilliantly reflects the heat of the passion that drives Rigby into being prepared to abandon his integrity and generates a claustrophobic atmosphere which is beautifully complemented by Joseph Ruttenberg's expressionistic cinematography. Ruttenberg's work also plays a major part in the success of the well-filmed shoot-out at a firework display which provides the film with its exciting climax. A top class cast also provides a number of memorable performances with Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner making their steamy romance look very convincing and Charles Laughton and Vincent Price both excellent as the two main villains of the piece. The script also sparkles in places with lines like "I never knew a crooked road could look so straight" (Rigby) and "They get the chair twice as hot for bumping off a Fed" (Bealer).

robert-temple-1 This one really works, because the performances from the stars are so strong. Robert Z. Leonard was the director, and he had worked before with three of the male leads, Robert Taylor, Charles Laughton, and John Hodiak, so it was an old pals' act. Vincent Price is also in the cast, being creepy as usual. Into this mix steps the amazing Ava Gardner, aged 27, slim as a withy and already a veteran of numerous films, such as as the powerful noir, WHISTLESTOP (1946, see my review). Everything is very intense, and frankly I believe that apart from ADVISE AND CONSENT (1962) I never saw a better performance by Charles Laughton. This is one of those confusing stories where it is not possible to be certain who is a good guy and who is a bad guy, not unsimilar to much of that strange thing we live sometimes called Life. Robert Taylor, with his calm and commanding voice and his authoritative presence, is an undercover cop, but will he compromise his principles for love and accept a bribe? Or indeed will he be killed if he fails to accept the bribe? Is Ava Gardner a wicked siren or an innocent victim? Is John Hodiak a scheming conniver or a pathetic dying man with a heart condition? Is Charles Laughton as stupid as he looks, or is he as clever as a fox? And if he is clever, then whose side is he on? Or is there any side for him but his own? All of these ambiguities add vastly to the suspense. The film is set in a fictional island off the coast of Central America called Carlota. In fact, the only real Carlota Island is in the Philippines. But never mind, this is a movie. The War is over and a lot of military scrap is being sold, but mixed amongst the scrap are a lot of military airplane engines which are being stolen and sold at high prices in a scam by criminals. Taylor is sent from the USA to investigate, though he has no powers of arrest in this foreign location. He is told that Hodiak and his wife Gardner are suspects. Investigating Ava Gardner is something anybody would like to do, and Taylor succumbs immediately to her charms, from which in any case no man was safe. (Those lingering looks, and lines such as 'Why don't you kiss me?', make temptation overpowering.) Well, it is all good, indeed very good, Hollywood stuff, and entertaining aplenty. And trying to figure out who the real criminals are, and wondering about Ava Gardner (in between admiring her) keeps you engaged all the way.

clive-13 The plot is thin enough to be ridiculous but Taylor, Gardner, Price and particularly Laughton bring this tale of smuggled airplane engines (yes, smuggled airplane engines)to a sharp, well-realized 40's noir.Beside an excellent cast, this film benefits from a rich atmosphere.You could swear you're in a real Mexican village in the fishing port of Carlotta. The actors sweat profusely in the steamy climate. The lighting is brilliant and the use of light and dark, particularly on the actors faces bring home how powerful lighting can be.Pacing is very good, and this film deserves to be seen be a wider audience Good job TCM for continuing to show this film. Now here comes the but.....this is what I get for watching movies to closely i.e. picky, picky, picky.Well here goes... the door latch/lock lip, where the door closes over thelatch/lock into Gardner's dressing room and the same location on the doors that open onto Taylor's room are odd. They all had door knobs on both entry and exit. They all lack a closing mechanism. In other words...a lock! Yet when actors enter or exit you clearly hear a door open/close sound. If continuity missed this once you could forgive, yet 6 or 7 times? Okay...I still give this very entertaining film with it's spectacular final scene a strong 7 and highly recommend

whpratt1 If you like a full cast of great veteran actors, this B&W film is perfect to entertain you from beginning to the very end. Robert Taylor,(Rigby) is a Government Agent assigned to investigate the misuse of Government surplus from World War II and mostly airplane engines that were being smuggled out of Central America and sold to other countries. Rigby is given some information to lead him in the right direction to find out just who is involved in this operation. Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Hintten, is married to John Hodiak,(Tug Hintten) and Rigby gets very involved with this couple and especially Tug's wife. There is a creepy, dirty fat looking guy, played by Charles Laughton,(J.J. Bealer) who follows Rigby like his own shadow. Vincent Price,(Carwood) met Rigby on the airplane going to Central America and met him once again for a fishing trip to catch a swordfish and Carwood gets confused and throws the boat's engine into reverse and causes all kinds of problems. If you like veteran actors giving outstanding performances, this is the film for you.