Macao (1952)
Macao (1952)
Robert Mitchum Jane Russell and William Bendix star in this film-noir drama set in the titled Far East port city. The three meet briefly before their ship docks in Macao. A local police Lieutenant Sebastian (Thomas Gomez) suspects that loner Nick Cochran (Mitchum) has been sent to entice a locally successful American Vincent Halloran (Brad Dexter) and fugitive from his native country’s justice system to leave the city towards China where he can be apprehended outside the three mile limit. Since Lt. Sebastian is on the casino owner’s dole he informs Halloran of Nick’s presence. Halloran suspects that Julie Benson (Russell) is also part of the conspiracy to catch him even though it’s really salesman Lawrence C. Trumble (Bendix) that’s the undercover agent who’s been sent to entrap him. Still Halloran hires road weary singer Julie for his club "The Quick Reward" perhaps to keep his enemies close while he tries to compel Nick to leave town. Since dice table operator-moll Margie (Gloria Grahame) loves Halloran she conspires to help Nick take Julie who’s drawn the eye of her boss-lover with him. Meanwhile Trumble’s plan is to use Nick to accomplish his goal. Philip Ahn plays Halloran’s henchman who’s good with a knife; he successfully eliminates those who threaten his boss. Vladimir Sokoloff plays a blind mind who assists Nick. Directed by Josef Von Sternberg (retakes by Nicholas Ray) with a screenplay by Bernard Schoenfeld and Stanley Rubin from a story by Bob Williams.