Special Inspector (1938)

Filmed in Canada as part of the UK-Quota System: U. S. Customs Agent Tom Evans is given the assignment of running down a smuggling ring which hijacks Canadian fur-shipper's trucks and sells... See full summary »

Director:

Leon Barsha

Writer:

Edgar Edwards (original screenplay)

Stars:

Charles Quigley, Rita Hayworth, George McKay

Cast

Cast overview:
Charles Quigley	...	Tom Evans
Rita Hayworth	...	Patricia Lane
George McKay	...	Silver
Edgar Edwards	...	Bill
John Graham Spacey	...	David Foster (as John Spacey)
Eddie Laughton	...	Henchman, posing as David Foster
Bob Rideout	...	Dapper
Grant MacDonald	...	Skip
William Irving	...	Pete
Virginia Coomb	...	Mother Jones
Fred Bass	...	Ralph Collins
Vincent McKenna	...	Hendricks
Donald Douglas	...	Williams

Storyline

Filmed in Canada as part of the UK-Quota System: U. S. Customs Agent Tom Evans is given the assignment of running down a smuggling ring which hijacks Canadian fur-shipper's trucks and sells the loot in the United States. He gets a job with the trucking firm that has been hijacked the most by the gang, and is a hijack victim his first night on the road. Several clues lead him to the thieve's trail, but he overplays his cards at the head-office of the fur shippers, and is identified as a Customs Agent. Rita Hayworth would go on and make a couple of films in which she had a little bit more to do than she has in this b-feature programmer.

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Plot Keywords:

customs agent | smuggling | fur | truck | canada | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Across the Border

Filming Locations:

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 65,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kenneth J. Bishop Productions, Central Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Not the hidden gem I was hoping for...

Charles Quigley plays Tom Evans, the Special Inspector on an assignment to capture a gang smuggling furs from Canada into the United States.

A decent enough plot with a couple of neat twists, but the film falls a bit short as it's not gritty enough to be a good crime flick, the script isn't witty enough to make for a good comedy-thriller, and the lack of chemistry between Charles Quigley & Rita Hayworth doesn't help the romantic sub-plot.

Worth viewing for film buffs interested in the UK "quota-quickie" B-movies, but in particular for fans of Rita Hayworth to see her in an early un-glamorous role (but still very easy on the eye!).

1938 was the year of Angels With Dirty Faces and The Lady Vanishes, and I'm afraid Special Inspector is not in the same league, let alone the same ball park as those movies.

A generous 7/10 for an hour's decent entertainment, but not a movie that will live long in my memory, or warrant a repeat viewing.