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IMDbPro

Bordertown

  • 19351935
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Bette Davis and Paul Muni in Bordertown (1935)
  • Crime
  • Drama
In Mexico, a former lawyer becomes the invaluable second-in-command to a casino owner, whose wife begins to fall for him.In Mexico, a former lawyer becomes the invaluable second-in-command to a casino owner, whose wife begins to fall for him.In Mexico, a former lawyer becomes the invaluable second-in-command to a casino owner, whose wife begins to fall for him.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Archie Mayo
  • Writers
    • Laird Doyle(screen play)
    • Wallace Smith(screen play)
    • Robert Lord(story)
  • Stars
    • Paul Muni
    • Bette Davis
    • Margaret Lindsay
Top credits
  • Director
    • Archie Mayo
  • Writers
    • Laird Doyle(screen play)
    • Wallace Smith(screen play)
    • Robert Lord(story)
  • Stars
    • Paul Muni
    • Bette Davis
    • Margaret Lindsay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos33

    Paul Muni "Bordertown" 1935 Warner / **I.V.
    Bette Davis and Paul Muni in Bordertown (1935)
    Paul Muni in Bordertown (1935)
    Bette Davis in Bordertown (1935)
    Bette Davis and Paul Muni in Bordertown (1935)
    Bette Davis and Frank Puglia in Bordertown (1935)
    Bette Davis in Bordertown (1935)
    Bette Davis and Paul Muni in Bordertown (1935)
    Paul Muni, Frank Puglia, and George Regas in Bordertown (1935)
    Glen Cavender, Paul Muni, and Ralph Navarro in Bordertown (1935)
    Soledad Jiménez and Paul Muni in Bordertown (1935)
    Paul Muni in Bordertown (1935)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Muni
    Paul Muni
    • Johnny Ramirezas Johnny Ramirez
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Marie Roarkas Marie Roark
    Margaret Lindsay
    Margaret Lindsay
    • Dale Elwellas Dale Elwell
    Eugene Pallette
    Eugene Pallette
    • Charlie Roarkas Charlie Roark
    Robert Barrat
    Robert Barrat
    • Padreas Padre
    Soledad Jiménez
    Soledad Jiménez
    • Mrs. Ramirezas Mrs. Ramirez
    • (as Soledad Jimenez)
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    • Harryas Harry
    Gavin Gordon
    Gavin Gordon
    • Brook Manvilleas Brook Manville
    William B. Davidson
    William B. Davidson
    • Dr. Carteras Dr. Carter
    • (as William Davidson)
    Arthur Stone
    Arthur Stone
    • Manuel Diegoas Manuel Diego
    Vivian Tobin
    Vivian Tobin
    • Mrs. Garneras Mrs. Garner
    Carmen Gould
    Oscar Apfel
    Oscar Apfel
    • Judge Rufus Barnswellas Judge Rufus Barnswell
    • (uncredited)
    Wade Boteler
    Wade Boteler
    • Man Wanting to Buy Roark's Casinoas Man Wanting to Buy Roark's Casino
    • (uncredited)
    Glen Cavender
    Glen Cavender
    • Man Restraining Johnny in Courtroom Fightas Man Restraining Johnny in Courtroom Fight
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Chefe
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Wallis Clark
    Wallis Clark
    • Friend of Dean on Podiumas Friend of Dean on Podium
    • (uncredited)
    Carlos De Valdez
    • Magistradoas Magistrado
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Archie Mayo
    • Writers
      • Laird Doyle(screen play)
      • Wallace Smith(screen play)
      • Robert Lord(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At first Paul Muni wanted Carole Lombard or Lupe Velez as female co-star, but after her success in Of Human Bondage he chose Bette Davis.
    • Goofs
      When Johnny Ramirez shortly after losing the case leaves his home and starts hitchhiking, you see a montage of calendar months indicating the passage of time. But the dates of the month do not correspond with the year 1934, which was the year of the trial as indicated by the court papers filed. Also, the sequence of calendar dates shown in the montage is out of order. They begin with August of 1936 and end with July 1936 as opposed to July 1937.
    • Quotes

      Marie Roark: The only fun I get is feeding the goldfish, and they only eat once a day.

    • Connections
      Featured in Frances Farmer Presents: Bordertown (1959)
    • Soundtracks
      Maria Elena
      (1933) (uncredited)

      Music by Lorenzo Barcelata

      Played at the beginning and often in the score

    User reviews37

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    South of the border
    Archie Mayo's "Bordertown" is a film that by today's standards would be deemed politically incorrect. The idea of the poor Mexican immigrant that wants to better himself, only to see people step all over him, is at the center of this tale.

    Juan Ramirez, the young lawyer, trying to defend the victim of an accident caused by the young and reckless Dale Elwell, is defeated by a much more experienced Anglo lawyer, who happened to know the system and the judge, obviously. As a result, Juan, decides to leave L.A. to go to a border town, probably Tijuana, where he becomes a partner of Charlie Roark, a decent man who sees the potential in Johnny, as he calls himself now.

    What Charlie doesn't know is that he is married to a scheming woman that couldn't care less for him. She has to get rid of her husband in order to get her hands on his money and looks to Johnny to help her, but of course, he wants nothing to do with her.

    Paul Muni was a great star at Warner Bros. at the time of this film. We were never fans of Mr. Muni, who in this film gives a clichéd account of the Hispanic Juan in a performance that goes over the top and doesn't convince anyone. On the other hand, Bette Davis, as Marie Roark, is her usual excellent self in a more nuanced performance. We see why later on, Ms. Davis will use all what she shows in this film and more to be the great star that she was. In minor roles, the formidable Eugene Palette plays Charlie Roark and Margaret Lindsay is seen as Dale Elwell, the rich girl that provoked the accident.

    This film is a rarity seldom seen these days.
    helpful•23
    6
    • jotix100
    • Jun 26, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 23, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Stadt an der Grenze
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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