(originally SLWB - September 22, 2011 updated 4/18/23)
Directed by Don Siegel (Private Hell 36, Riot in Cell Block 11, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The lineup).
Written by Daniel Mainwaring and Gerald Drayson Adams. Cinematography by Harry J. Wild, and Music by Leigh Harline.
The film stars Robert Mitchum as Lt. Duke Halliday, Jane Greer as Joan Graham, William Bendix as Capt. Vincent Blake, Ramon Navarro as Inspector General Ortega, Patric Knowles as Jim Fiske, and John Qualen as Julius Seton.
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| William Bendix as Capt. Vincent Blake |
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| Robert Mitchum as Lt. Duke Halliday |
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| Jane Greer as Joan Graham |
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| Patric Knowles as Jim Fiske |
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| Ramon Navarro as Inspector General Ortega |
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| John Qualen as Julius Seton |
This film fits in with the Great Bordertown / South Of the Border set Noirs, films like Hitchhiker, Jeopardy, Naked Alibi, Touch of Evil, Night of the Iguana, Rage, Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia, and The Wrong Man (1993).
The Story
U.S. Army Lieutenant Duke Halliday is robbed at gunpoint of a $300,000 by Jim Fiske. The money is in sequential serial numbers, it's hot. Fiske has to steal $2,000 from his gal pal Joan, to make a getaway to Mexico. So Fiske takes off for Mexico with Halliday close on his tail. Joan finds out from a travel agent where he bought a ticket for and heads for Veracruz too. She also knows the hotel he made reservations at. Meanwhile, Captain Vincent Blake didn't believe Halliday's story and when Halliday leaves the country Blake is in pursuit. Halliday takes the next boat a Pan Gulf line steamer for Veracruz, the same boat Joan is on.
Blake, who must have flown down to Veracruz is there waiting on the dock for the ship. Blake boards the ship and goes straight to Halliday's cabin.
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Joan Graham and Duke Halliday meet cute on the dock. There's an amusing sequence where a vendor sells Halliday parrot. Then Joan takes off for the hotel where Fiske is staying.
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When Joan knocks on Fiske's door he invites her in. She tells him she wants her two thousand dollars. He tells her that she'll have way more once he makes his deal, he nods to the leather suitcase.
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As soon as she's closed the door, Fiske grabs a suitcase he had hidden in cabinet and scoots.
A few minutes later, Halliday, who finally tracked down the hotel that checked in Fiske, arrives in the hall and opens Fiske's door. He hears water running and assumes Fiske is taking a shower-bath.
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Lo and behold it's the gal from the dock, in Fiske's room. Naturally Halliday is surprised. Joan then discovers that the suitcase she though held the money only contains clothes. Fiske is gone. They both team up to find him.
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So begins a Mexican Road Race. Halliday and Joan following Fiske, and Blake after Halliday.
Mexican Road Race
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Its mostly a chase film, and a very good one, and aside from the processed shots with front and rear projections its pretty exciting stuff as the various factions careen almost out of control along the back roads around Veracruz Mexico. The second unit shots of the car Jane and Bob are driving is a 1934 Buick, Patric Knowles is in a 1941 Ford, Bendix is in a late 40's Buick sedan (then a new car), are very exciting as they bob and weave almost out of control, pedal to the metal.
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The plot is quite ridiculous especially after remembering the opening sequence between Bendix & Mitchum, when you get to the end twist, you say WTF? Even the Czar of Noir Eddie Muller calls this a Romantic Comedy/Noir. You know they were trying to cash in on the Mitchum - Greer chemistry from Out Of The Past. Problems with filming occurred because of Mitchum's marijuana bust with Lila Leeds and his subsequent days spent in jail.
Biggest Disappointment -
Jane Greer - Now Jane Greer made this just two years after "Out Of The Past" and she looks a bit frumpy, 10 years older, with a lot of miles on her, especially noticeable are the bags under her eyes. It may be because she was pregnant during filming but she just doesn't look as good as she once did.
What's to like?
The car chase footage, the great Mexican locations, and the various Mitchum & Bendix encounters. The DVD's Special Features include an adequate commentary by Richard B. Jewell and through out that commentary he mentions how much the original script was changed to appease the censors, jettisoning fight and sexual scenes between Mitchum & Greer.
7/10
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