Borderline (1950)

Two undercover agents infiltrate a drug-smuggling ring in Mexico, but neither is aware of the other's identity.

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

Devery Freeman (story), Devery Freeman (screenplay)

Stars:

Fred MacMurray, Claire Trevor, Raymond Burr

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred MacMurray	...	Johnny McEvoy, aka Johnny Macklin
Claire Trevor	...	Madeleine Haley
Raymond Burr	...	Pete Ritchie
José Torvay	...	Miguel (as Jose Torvay)
Morris Ankrum	...	Bill Whittaker
Roy Roberts	...	Harvey Gumbin
Don Diamond	...	Deusik
Nacho Galindo	...	Porfirio
Pepe Hern	...	Pablo
Grazia Narciso	...	Porfirio's Wife

Storyline

Customs agents are looking for information about Pete Ritchie, who is involved in smuggling drugs into the US. Police officer Madeleine Haley goes undercover in order to gain Ritchie's confidence, and before long she meets him through one of his associates. As she is talking with Ritchie, Johnny Macklin and one of his men burst in, and they provoke a violent confrontation. From then on, Haley is in constant danger as she attempts to figure out everything that is happening in the smuggling operation.

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Plot Keywords:

undercover | mexico | drugs | drug smuggling | telephone wire | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alarma en la frontera

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Borderline Productions Corp.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the original 1950 copyright lapsed in the 1970's, the film was considered to be in the public domain, and so found its way into the inventory of countless independent videotape and DVD distributors.

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Goofs

During the conversation taking place in room 305 of the Customs Agency Service one of the Customs agents brings up the fact agent Haley speaks a pretty good Mexican(0:05:16).The Mexican language doesn't exist.Mexicans speak Spanish or various native Mayan dialects.

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Quotes

Madeleine Haley, aka Gladys LaRue: I'm quitting, Mr. Whittaker.
Whittaker: Quitting, nonsense. You've shown yourself admirably equipped for this assignment. Isn't that right, McEvoy?
Johnny McEvoy, aka Johnny Macklin: She has excellent equipment. And doesn't hesitate to use it.

User Reviews

Going South with Claire Trevor and Fred MacMurray

"Borderline" is sometimes classified as film noir, but it's really a combination of crime drama and romantic comedy. Since she could pass for a one of those "cheap, tawdry-looking dames" and "speaks a pretty good Mexican," star Claire Trevor (as Madeleine Haley) is chosen to investigate dope-smuggling "sucker for dames" Raymond Burr (as Pete Ritchie) down South. Don't miss Mr. Burr's reaction to the dolled-up Ms. Trevor dancing as one of the "la-la, la-la" girls.

He responds to her "come hither" with a "vamoose!"

When Burr finally succumbs to the older woman's charms, fist-throwing Fred MacMurray (as Johnny Macklin) enters the picture. The glee with which Mr. MacMurray smacks his cast-mates around doesn't match the impending revelation about the character. Next thing you know, Trevor and MacMurray are off on a road trip resembling "It Happened One Night" and falling in love. MacMurray gets the line, "Who do you have to know around here to get something to eat?"

Big stars are catered to, sir, check with Norman Cook.

*** Borderline (3/1/50) William A. Seiter ~ Claire Trevor, Fred MacMurray, Raymond Burr, Morris Ankrum