Calcutta (1946)

Neale and Pedro fly cargo between Chungking and Calcutta. When their buddy Bill is murdered they investigate. Neale meets Bill's fiancée Virginia and becomes suspicious of a deeper plot while also falling for her charms.

Director:

John Farrow

Writer:

Seton I. Miller (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Alan Ladd, Gail Russell, William Bendix

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Alan Ladd	...	Neale Gordon
Gail Russell	...	Virginia Moore
William Bendix	...	Pedro Blake
June Duprez	...	Marina Tanev
Lowell Gilmore	...	Eric Lasser
Edith King	...	Mrs. Smith
Paul Singh	...	Mul Raj Malik
Gavin Muir	...	Inspector Kendricks
John Whitney	...	Bill Cunningham
Benson Fong	...	Young Chinese Clerk

Storyline

Neale Gordon and Pedro Lake, commercial pilots who fly the hump between Chungking and Calcutta learn, when they reach Calcutta, that their pal, Bill Cunningham, has been murdered. Neales investigation leads him to the Chalgani Club, run by Eric Lasser. Marina Tanov, the club's Russian singer, in love with Neale, tells him that Bill was engaged to an American girl, Virginia Moore. Neale seeks out Virginia, who admits that Bill gave her the $10,000 necklace she is wearing. Knowing that Bill never had that kind of money, Neale checks up. He learns that Bill had actually bought and paid for it. Neale and Virginia are having a drink at the bar when Pedro shows Neale a valuable star-sapphire which he found in the hangar. The pilots then realize they have stumbled onto a smuggling racket. Neale is convinced that Virginia is not involved.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | american abroad | woman in jeopardy | man slaps a woman | betrayal | 

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Taglines:

LADD MOVES IN ON THE MOBSTERS OF THE MYSTIC EAST! (original poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 9, 1950 with Alan Ladd and Gail Russell reprising their film roles.

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Goofs

When Neale takes Virginia Moore out for drinks, he orders two gin slings with ice. When the waiter brings their drinks, he announces, "Brandy and soda."

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Connections

Referenced in Chicago, the Beautiful (1948)

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Soundtracks

This Is Madness
(uncredited)
Written by Bernie Wayne and Ben Raleigh
Sung by June Duprez

User Reviews

Exactly what does it have to do with Calcutta?

Routine mystery suffers from Ladd's seeming indifference to his character in the lead and Gail Russell's unsuitability for her role. Add into that the fact that they share almost no rapport on screen and it hurts the picture. Gail, a lovely actress whose looks had not been destroyed by her extreme alcoholism at this point, is too gentle a presence to be convincing as the sort of femme fatale that was Ladd's frequent partner, Veronica Lake's stock in trade. The best performance comes from supporting player Edith King, in her screen debut, as the shady but very fun Mrs. Smith who though it's never stated outright is obviously the local madame as well as involved in other shady doings. The picture comes to life whenever she enters the scene. It's a pity her role isn't larger. Otherwise this is a standard actioner, which despite the title could have been set anywhere since it's mostly set indoors, that the studios pumped out weekly to keep product in the theatres during the Golden Age.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 August 1947 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Calcutta

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1