Lisbon (1956)

High stakes battle of wits and morals between gentlemen crooks, set in beautiful Portugal. A smuggler is hired to kidnap the rich husband of an American woman who's just arrived in Lisbon, Portugal.

Director:

Ray Milland (as R. Milland)

Writers:

John Tucker Battle (screenplay), Martin Rackin (story)

Stars:

Ray Milland, Maureen O'Hara, Claude Rains

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray Milland	...	Capt. Robert John Evans
Maureen O'Hara	...	Sylvia Merrill
Claude Rains	...	Aristides Mavros
Yvonne Furneaux	...	Maria Madalena Massenet / Maggie
Francis Lederer	...	Serafim
Percy Marmont	...	Lloyd Merrill
Jay Novello	...	Inspector João Casimiro Fonseca
Edward Chapman	...	Edgar Selwyn
Harold Jamieson	...	Philip Norworth
Humberto Madeira	...	Toni
Robie Lester	...	Singer (as Roby Charmandy)

Storyline

In 1950s Portugal, American expatriate Captain Robert John Evans does a bit of smuggling using his fast boat. He mostly smuggles consumer goods and contraband such as cigarettes and booze. Lisbon's police inspector, Joao Casimiro Fonseca, is aware of this and often times tries to catch Evans red-handed but to no avail. At the same time, American Sylvia Merrill, wife of industrialist Lloyd Merrill, arrives in Lisbon to arrange the secret release from a Communist prison from behind the Iron Curtain of her husband. She first complains to the State Department about her husband's imprisonment but U.S. officials seem unable to make any progress to obtain his release. Sylvia Merrill contacts big shot criminal, jewel thief and smuggler Aristides Mavros, a Greek living in Lisbon, to negotiate a bribe for Communist officials and have her hubby released from their prisons. Mavros is a man with many useful connections but he's also a scoundrel not to be trusted by anyone. He figures to woo the ...

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Plot Keywords:

city in title | damsel in distress | held at gunpoint | song | singer | 

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Taglines:

CITY OF INTRIGUE, MURDER AND EXCITEMENT! (original poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mrs. Merryll arrives in Lisbon from TAP's CS-TLC Lockheed Super Constellation, on service for Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP) since September 1955.

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Goofs

Mrs. Merrill asks Evans about the Fado they're listening to in a tavern of Alfama (Lisbon), "Lisboa Antiga". He answers, "Ancient Lisbon - old Lisbon. A sort of Home, Sweet Home, for Brazilians." In a single sentence, Evans shows his insensitivity for the use of the English language, the disparity of Portuguese and Brazilian national souls, and of this Fado in particular - "Lisboa Antiga" was written in 1937 by Raúl Portela, was used in two movies before this, and was made famous the world over sang by Amália Rodrigues - a singer Americans would know since she sang for the Mashall Plan programs (1950), her 14 weeks at La Vie en Rose (New York, 1952), and her NBC Eddie Fisher show (1953). Nelson Riddle took this music to America and orchestrated it for the movie's opening theme - but Evans wouldn't know that.

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Quotes

Capt. Robert John Evans: [to Maria, after unexpected kiss] Take it easy catnip! I have a very low boiling point...

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Soundtracks

Lisboa Antiga
(orchestral recording)
Music by Raúl Portela
English Lyrics by Harry Dupree
Sung by Robie Lester (as Roby Charmandy)

User Reviews

Beautifully photographed, with Ray Milland starring and directing. A quite good adventure.

Lisbon is the local for this adventure romance, starring Ray Milland and Maureen O'Hara. It is beautifully photographed on location and the story is rousing and the intrigue suspenseful. Claude Rains, is the thief who Sullivan hires to get back her elderly husband, a millionaire, who has been kidnapped by the Chinese. Rains, is of course, suave, devious, and wonderful as the man of many tastes, including beautiful young women. He has always been good in such a part, as he was in Notorious, as the Nazi spy. Ray Milland is dashing, elegant and just nice to look at. His part as the smuggler gives him a chance to use a little comedy, especially when pursued by a beautiful young woman who Raines employs as a "secretary." She is enamored of Milland and she tries to help him escape the hands of Sarafin, who works for Raines and wants to kill Milland to keep the girl for himself. Maureen seduces Milland, but he rejects her advances after she tells him she wants her husband back "dead." He returns the husband alive, and Raines is picked up by the police for the smuggling that Milland was doing all along. Nice twists all around. Milland is still so wonderful to look at and listen to, it is not surprising that all the women are in love with him. For those who thought that Yvonne Furneaux had a hard time throwing herself into the arms of Milland, you have to remember that she is living with Claude Rains as his mistress. Therefore Milland would not look older to her. He directs this film with just enough pace to make it interesting, and the O'Hara character is smooth and crafty. Beautiful to look at scenery only adds to the pictures appeal.

Details

Country:

USA Portugal

Language:

English Portuguese French

Release Date:

17 August 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lisbon

Filming Locations:

Tobis Portuguesa, Lumiar, Lisbon, Portugal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Trucolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1