The Bribe (1949)

Federal agent Rigby, in Central America to trace stolen plane engines, falls for the gorgeous wife of the chief suspect.

Directors:

Robert Z. Leonard, Vincente Minnelli (uncredited)

Writers:

Marguerite Roberts (screen play), Frederick Nebel (short story)

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Charles Laughton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Taylor	...	Rigby
Ava Gardner	...	Elizabeth Hintten
Charles Laughton	...	J.J. Bealer
Vincent Price	...	Carwood
John Hodiak	...	Tug Hintten
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Dr. Warren
John Hoyt	...	Gibbs
Tito Renaldo	...	Emilio Gomez
Martin Garralaga	...	Pablo Gomez

Storyline

In pursuit of stolen aircraft engines on a Central American island, federal agent Rigby meets chief suspect Hintten and his wife Elizabeth, a sultry cafe singer; and is watched by Bealer, a "pie-shaped man" with sore feet. Rigby knows he's on the right track when Bealer offers him money to leave Carlota. When Rigby and Elizabeth are drawn to each other, the gang realizes there's more than one kind of bribe. Everybody sweats.

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Plot Keywords:

federal agent | cafe singer | island | bribe | ex pilot | 

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Taglines:

5 Great Stars in a Daring Drama of Love and Adventure !

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 August 1949 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Geheimaktion Carlotta

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,984,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,559,000, 31 December 1949

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,510,000, 31 December 1949

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was first telecast in Philadelphia Saturday 10 November 1956 on WFIL (Channel 6), followed by Seattle Monday 26 November 1956 on KING (Channel 5), by Hartford CT Thursday 13 December 1956 on WHCT (Channel 18), by Salem OR Wednesday 2 January 1957 on KGW (Channel 8), by New York City Monday 7 January 1957 on WCBS (Channel 2), by Chicago Tuesday 8 January 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), by Altoona PA Sunday 10 February 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10) and by Los Angeles Friday 22 March 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11); in San Francisco it was first telecast 1 January 1958 on KGO (Channel 7).

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Quotes

J.J. Bealer: Don't like hearing that, do you? What don't you like about it most? Knowing that Hintten's a crook or that Rigby's a cop?

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Connections

Featured in Pulp Cinema (2001)

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Soundtracks

La Perica
(uncredited)
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Lyrics by William Katz
[Sung by extras in fiesta scenes]

User Reviews

Standard crime story with great atmoshpere and top players

This is a fasinating example of film noir elements grafted on to an ordenary crime thriller, there is also romance between Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner, but thats a weaker part of the story. Taylor is to wooden in his role as a federal agent, Robert Mitchum would have been more suitable for this kind of film. But there are som nice noir caracters in the supporting roles, and director Robert Z Leonard contrasts effectivly the down at the heel feeling, with the surface glitter of the big town criminals who move trough it, giving the film a glossy look that at the same time is filled with an atmosphere of moral corruption. Ava Gardner is very beatiful in this early role, and she makes the most of it, Charles Laughton is very good as the sly henchman, oily and treacherous, he creats a fasinating character of a small role, a sort of unshaven Quasimodo, who sweats a lot and have trouble with sour feets. He is both human, weak and repulsive at the same time. Vincent Price is the suave villain, his playboy sportsman is both naive and evil but more icy than most of his roles of this kind, and he gives a fine performance. John Hodiak is a broken down ex-pilot, with alcoholic problems, a small role but well played. All these supporting players give the film a definite noir feeling, as well as Joseph Ruttenbergs moody graphics and Miklos Rozas score, also telling the story in flashback with Taylor narrating while recovering from beeing druged, gives the story a feeling of defeat and betrayal. The settings are dirty and seedy and the climate steamy, and the usual glossy high MGM production values, gives the footage a feeling of tropical heat. The story is a little slow moving, but the final shot-out between Taylor and villain Price during a carnival, is stylish and intersting as the element of death and joy are effectivley juxtaposed.