Very odd, unusual film that mixes noir with Lucy Ricardo and "It Happened One Night".
Claire Trevor plays LA Policewoman Madeleine Haley who is sent to Mexico to see what information she can get about Pete Ritchie (Raymond Burr) and his drug smuggling ring. Word has it that Ritchie has an eye for the ladies. However in a scene that smacks of Lucy Ricardo, working as a showgirl Haley tries desperately to flirt and get Ritchie's attention but he completely ignores her. It's PURE Lucy.
In trying to play up to one of Ritchie's boys, Haley then gets involved with a rival hood, Johnny Mackelin (Fred MacMurray who seems to be in the midst of transitioning from the tough guy of "Double Indemnity" to "The Shaggy Dog") who steals Ritchie's drugs and lams it for the border, taking Haley with him. The film then turns into a comedy noir version of "It Happened One Night" as the two share a hotel room together (Trevor at 40 and with a history of playing saloon girls and the like unbelievable as the virginal Haley, wary of Mackelin trying to take her virtue!), traveling by plane and automobile.
MacMurray is actually pretty good as he balances between noir and comedy, while Burr is excellent as the very serious heavy. As a curiosity, Roy Roberts plays Gumbin, Haley's boss. Years later he would frequently play the judge on Burr's "Perry Mason". Trevor sad to say is the weak point here. She's too old for the role and its just not the type of part ("Stagecoach", "The High and Mighty", "Key Largo") she excels at.
Still, an odd little diversion that does have its little surprises (and one of the worst showgirl numbers this side of "Showgirls"!)
Claire Trevor plays LA Policewoman Madeleine Haley who is sent to Mexico to see what information she can get about Pete Ritchie (Raymond Burr) and his drug smuggling ring. Word has it that Ritchie has an eye for the ladies. However in a scene that smacks of Lucy Ricardo, working as a showgirl Haley tries desperately to flirt and get Ritchie's attention but he completely ignores her. It's PURE Lucy.
In trying to play up to one of Ritchie's boys, Haley then gets involved with a rival hood, Johnny Mackelin (Fred MacMurray who seems to be in the midst of transitioning from the tough guy of "Double Indemnity" to "The Shaggy Dog") who steals Ritchie's drugs and lams it for the border, taking Haley with him. The film then turns into a comedy noir version of "It Happened One Night" as the two share a hotel room together (Trevor at 40 and with a history of playing saloon girls and the like unbelievable as the virginal Haley, wary of Mackelin trying to take her virtue!), traveling by plane and automobile.
MacMurray is actually pretty good as he balances between noir and comedy, while Burr is excellent as the very serious heavy. As a curiosity, Roy Roberts plays Gumbin, Haley's boss. Years later he would frequently play the judge on Burr's "Perry Mason". Trevor sad to say is the weak point here. She's too old for the role and its just not the type of part ("Stagecoach", "The High and Mighty", "Key Largo") she excels at.
Still, an odd little diversion that does have its little surprises (and one of the worst showgirl numbers this side of "Showgirls"!)