Singapore (1947)

Director:

John Brahm

Writers:

Seton I. Miller (story)
Seton I. Miller (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 August 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Romance | War

Plot:

After the war, Matt Gordon returns to Singapore to retrieve a fortune in smuggled pearls. Arrived, he reminisces in flashback about his prewar fiancée...

Plot Keywords:

Japanese | Singapore | Pearls | Amnesia | Invasion

Cast

Fred MacMurray	...	Matt Gordon
Ava Gardner	...	Linda Grahame / Ann Van Leyden
Roland Culver	...	Michael Van Leyden
Richard Haydn	...	Deputy Commissioner Hewitt
Spring Byington	...	Mrs. Bellows
Thomas Gomez	...	Mr. Mauribus
Porter Hall	...	Mr. Gerald Bellows
George Lloyd	...	Sascha Barda
Maylia	...	Ming Ling
Holmes Herbert	...	Rev. Thomas Barnes
Edith Evanson	...	Mrs. Edith Barnes
Frederick Worlock	...	Cadum
Lal Chand Mehra	...	Mr. Hussein
Curt Conway	...	Pepe

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PA (Ontario) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12443)

Filming Locations:

Palmdale, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Quotes:

Linda: So let me ruin you fast.
Matt Gordon: How many have you ruined?
Linda: You're my last victim, darling.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Istanbul (1957)

Walter Neff is now into pearl smuggling

Fred Macmurray played one unforgettable role as Walter Neff in "Double Indemnity" (1944) and I cannot quite separate him from this role when I see FM perform in other films like "Singapore" where he plays Matt Gordon a pearl smuggler.I fervently believe the best acted performances come from the actor having an affinity or some actual practical experience of the role in real life.I am not saying FM was into insurance fraud but he looked more comfortable in an American setting.The plot has been adequately commented on by other reviewers above, most notably by Terrell-4 from San Antonio Texas, whose review I commend.

There were a few things I found irritating and getting a second rate TV director will not produce a first class film.First, after Ava Gardner had being roughed up by one of the "baddies" to get her to talk, there was not a blemish, bruise or mark on her Venus like face.When FM wants to pay for his bar bills he decides how much he will pay leaving some notes on the table, without waiting to receive a bill - I noticed he did this on at least two occasions.Yet again actors (FM) appear to be able to walk through other guests hotel bedroom doors or magically have the right key in their pockets, this is a general continuity criticism of films of this era; so much for hotel security.What is an American gangster doing in Singapore? One of the "heavies" sounded like he came from 1920s Chicage!

On the plus side I liked Roland Culver's performance as plantation manager van Leiden who played an honest man who is prepared to give up his Venus like wife because he knows she really loves Walter Neff (sorry FM).Richard Haydn for once plays it straight as the police commissioner in colonial Singapore on the trail of local malefactors and I hardly recognised him compared to say his performance as Mr Wilson in "Cluny Brown" (1946).

Taken all together I found it enjoyable but uneven and therefore rated it 6/10.