Don't Believe the Hype

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Money counterfeiting is the subject of this enjoyable, if predictable, crime drama where a convicted counterfeiter (Lloyd Bridges in a very serious role) is offered the possibility of early parole if he helps the Department of the Treasury capture and convict those who have continued Bridges' counterfeiting racket while he's been behind bars. Of course, Bridges isn't on the up and up as he utilizes this plan to escape from prison and reconcile with his former girlfriend (the gorgeous Barbara Payton) who has divided loyalties of her own.Practically every government bureau has been a part of a documentary style crime drama or film noir where it is obvious that the writers are showing that "You can't get away with it", and here, that is obvious from the start as to the theme of the movie. The film starts off with the plight of a struggling restaurant owner who discovers that the $20 bill she took in earlier was a fake and how that money could make or break her. It is obvious that when the feds confront Bridges in prison to bargain with him that he won't follow through with his agreement and that adds a sense of falsehood to the plot.There's a few exciting chase sequences and some wonderful moments of dialog between Bridges and the bleach-blonde Payton, some tense moments where the undercover fed's cover is blown, and a stunningly violent conclusion. This makes the film overall acceptable, but it has been done many times before and since, and much better.

I saw this film tonight on Youtube.com as although I am normally a fan of 1940s film movies, I had never seen "Trapped" (1949).The minute I was informed by the sonorous tones of the male voice-over giving his propaganda paean of praise to those "Boys in the US Treasury Dept", I knew the "moral film code" prevailing at this time would soon start to apply(can't give Joe Doe ideas above his station!).Nevertheless I stuck to it until the end partly because I love seeing actors using the old two piece telephone equipment in Hollywood films of this period and I get a perverse pleasure out of seeing actors lighting up on screen and ruining their livers with excessive pretence of drinking alcohol.It was a new twist seeing a team of counterfeiters at work, instead of a routine robbery.Of course there are none of your politically correct police here, they start banging away at the baddies a.s.a.p.,after all it is supposed to be entertainment.It was a pity the glamorous blond girlfriend of Tris Stewart was shot dead by the chief "baddy" but after all she did tip Lloyd Bridges off that a government agent had infiltrated the gang and so "the moral code" decreed she must perish.I rated it 5/10 because if Lloyd Bridges was the star, the other actors were distinctly second rate in this low budget film directed by Richard Fleischer.

she really doesn't have a heck of a lot to do and this movie is kind of gauche with its ridiculous opening in newsreel style, stretching the film out to feature length with an "in the news" documentary bit that segues to a silly bank scene in which a struggling lady restaurateur is held accountable for a phony 20 passed at her eatery.Lloyd Bridges is good but the weakness of the film is such that one gets tired of him along with the whole shebang, quite honestly!Have to concede that the very ending is quite... elaborate a veritableRube Goldberg contraption. What a way to go!The review needs another line, gee that's fine!

This was a good movie. Considering that it was probably made on a shoestring budget, it was a very good movie. Personally, I enjoy a good plot and storyline and this picture had it; it was interesting and absorbing throughout. Pacing was good and the picture moved along at a brisk pace. There was very little if any padding material.Good job by Lloyd Bridges, who had not yet made it big. It had a good cast of dependable character actors. I did not know the sad story of Barbara Payton until I read it on the website, and she was very good as Bridges' girlfriend. It must have been Director Richard Fleischer's first solid hit, as he went on to have a pretty distinguished career in Hollywood.If it ever comes on one of the movie channels do yourself a favor and see it, even if you're not a cops-and-robbers fan.