Overrated

Expected more

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

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).

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.

After reading the mostly lukewarm reviews on IMDb, I decided to give this movie a try. I like Vincent Price and Charles Laughton, so I figured it would be worth a look.Am I ever glad I did! I found perhaps the best movie of 1949! Once again I ask the question, "Why have I never heard of this movie?"Perhaps because Ava Gardner went on to star in bigger films. But I certainly never saw her better (with the possible exception of the far later "Night of the Iguana").I would not call this a film noir. There are several necessary film noir elements that are missing from "The Bribe," in my opinion. I'd call it more of a cop story.However, that's a lot like saying "Casablanca" is a bar story. Or a war story. Similar to that film, the crime plot of "The Bribe" is just a backdrop for the love that transforms and overturns Taylor's, Gardner's and Hodiak's lives.They say the course of true love never did run smooth. But Bogie and Bergman had a picnic in the park compared to what Taylor and Gardner must suffer. Both eventually fall so deeply in love that they're willing to destroy their lives for each other, yet neither trusts the other, and both are certain they have been betrayed. Used.Ava Gardner is absolutely captivating in her second major role. Although Taylor does not manage to evoke the pathos Bogart does, Gardner absolutely sizzles! She is on screen during a large portion of the film, and every moment is riveting. Her acting has genuine depth as well, far outdoing Bergman's somewhat cold, rather simplistic naiveté. The girl is really torn up inside! The other great delight in the film is Charles Laughton. He plays the sleaziest, lowest-down weasel that just about ever graced the pages of fiction, yet there were times that he reminded me more of Sophocles's blind seer Tiresias. And in spite of how unwashed and repulsive he is, in spite of how uncaringly he treats everyone he comes in contact with, in spite of his contemptible, almost laughable cowardice, he somehow still manages to come off as a genuinely lovable character.The movie starts out kind of dumb. I thought with the voice-over narration that it was going to be another "Lady In The Lake," or maybe "Murder, My Sweet." But once the movie gets going, after half an hour or so, it just gets better and better. The plot becomes intense and intriguing. When I thought it was about to end, there were four more plot twists to go! Don't let this one slip by you next time!

Film Noir? (kinda).. Slow paced. Plot a bit unbelievable, but lots of plots are. Taylor talks too much. I really liked Charles Laughton's portrayal, felt disgust and sympathy for his character at the same time, I think it was a gem of a performance. Ava is beautiful, as usual. Price is sinister, as usual. Hodiak is competent, as usual. Final fireworks are very impressive. If you have and hour and a half to spare, watch it and you'll only be wasting about 30 minutes.