At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The acting in this movie is really good.

Campy melodrama about conflicts on an African plantation between two white men (Walter Pidgeon, Richard Carlson) over an exotic native girl named Tondelayo (Hedy Lamarr). It's a fun movie with a very memorable performance from Hedy. She's beautiful and sexy even behind the silly makeup. Pidgeon is great fun, yelling his way through the entire movie at every little thing that annoys him. Richard Carlson is quite good. Great support from Frank Morgan as a sympathetic doctor with a drinking problem. Nice cinematography, especially whenever Hedy is on screen. An entertaining movie with a very amusing ending. It helps if you don't take it too seriously.

One can't help but go native when encountering Tondelayo (Hedy Lamarr), a local beauty with a great dental plan In White Cargo. With western interests there to exploit the people and capitalize on their natural resources Tondelayo does a decent job of leveling the playing field with the white invaders with a brand of irresistible guerrilla sensuality that throws the boys into disarray. Langford (Richard Carlson) is a newly arrived employee of an African rubber plantation run by the British. Wirtzel (Walter Pidgeon) who is in charge doubts if he has the right stuff to put up with the oppressive heat and supervising workers who don't speak English. Langford is soon frustrated and overwhelmed but finds respite in island beauty Tondelayo. Wirtzel who has fallen victim to her allure in the past warns Langford about her and the already abrasive relationship becomes even more strained. Gold digger Tondelayo meanwhile attempts to soak Langford for everything he has before Wirtzel puts an end to it. There is more than a whiff of white supremacy in White Cargo as the savage and immoral Tondelayo without remorse plunders Carlson and tries to pit him against Wirtzel. It's all very nice to dally with the natives away from home states Frank Morgan's doctor but there is no room for miscegenation in the civilized white world. It's all very nice for them to exploit the land and people but the locals better know their place. Lamarr's Jolson look is jarring with a gleaming Ipana smile as director Richard Thorpe keeps his camera trained in close-up of her. Hedy is stilted and her performance dated but with her beauty speaking for her she is a powerful presence to contend with. Pidgeon, Carlson, Morgan and Reg Owen lend able support but the arch storyline is creaky even for 42 and Lamarr as jungle girl remains a bit of a stretch in the looks department but her beauty and tenacity make it entertaining enough and given the time (WW ll) must have been a welcome sight to overseas GIs, though my guess is they took little heed to the cautionary addendum about the dangers of fraternizing with locals message.

Maybe not a great film, but definitely watchable. First of all, I really enjoyed seeing Frank Morgan in his role as the doctor who uses liquor to cope with the backwater environment of an African rubber plantation. And Walter Pidgeon's role as the burnt-out manager of the plantation was an interesting contrast to some other roles he is known for. He is a firecracker ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Just the mention of certain words will set him off.I do think the script was lacking, partially because it was repetitious. Okay, we understand what words trigger the boss man's rage. We don't have to hear them over and over. Regarding the lines that Hedy Lamarr was handed, they are sometimes silly, but we know that the only English she has heard was from Pidgeon's character and a few others. She does as well with her lines as anyone could.Tondaleya's entrance is iconic. Whether you like the eyes accented by shadows and light, her presentation is a gamble that is consistent throughout the film and memorable. The first shot of Rita Hayworth in Gilda is similarly iconic.Another thing that bothered me was the comic ending. Was it tacked on in hopes of undercutting the dramatic "real" ending of the film? Could be. It was totally worthless. An afterword with a dramatic or ironic ending would have been more suitable and effective.I rated this a 5.

Enjoyed this black & white 1942 film dealing with a British rubber plantation in Africa where Mr. Harry Witzel, (Walter Pidgeon) is in charge of the operations. The conditions on this plantation is very hot and humid and you go to bed sweating and wake up the same way in complete discomfort. There is a young man named Mr. Langford, (Richard Carlson) who has been hired on the plantation and is eager to make big changes in his new position, but the climate soon breaks him down, except he does meet up with a very sexy native gal named Tondelayo, (Hedy Lamarr) who wraps him around her little finger in more ways than one. Veteran actor Frank Morgan plays the role as an alcoholic doctor who gives a great supporting role and Hedy Lamarr gave a great acting performance as a very dangerous and sexy gal who always gets what she wants. Enjoy.