Fri 9 Dec 2011
ILLEGAL ENTRY. Universal, 1949. Howard Duff, Märta Torén, George Brent, Gar Moore, Tom Tully, Paul Stewart. Director: Frederick De Cordova.
Director Frederick De Cordova is, of course, far better known for his work producing and directing on TV than in the movies, and even then more for his work in comedy (Jack Benny, Johnny Carson) than for fare of a more criminous nature. This semi-documentary near-noir film about illegal immigration into California in the late 1940s was never his usual stock in trade, by far.
Nor is anything more than average all the way around, even with a host of recognizable names and faces for movies of this type, including star Howard Duff, he with the voice of Sam Spade and the quizzically uplifted eyebrows.
As a former Air Force pilot Bert Powers, Duff is asked to work undercover to get the goods on a ruthless gang of illegal alien importers — so ruthless are they as to drop their freight out of an open door if they feel the feds are getting too close.
The reason he’s brought in is because Märta Torén, the widow of a good buddy of Powers, is somehow connected with the gang. And indeed she is, but not willingly, which gives Powers all kinds of false signals, to his complete frustration.
There’s nothing deep involved in this tale, which is competently told, but unless you’re a fan of any of the players, you’ll forget it almost as soon as the bad guys have been caught. Forgive me for giving the ending away just now, but as you well know, you’d be much more surprised if they weren’t.
December 10th, 2011 at 11:26 am
Steve – I saw ILLEGAL ENTRY a few years ago and found it just so-so in terms of acting and action.
And when one considers how porous America’s borders have become since ILLEGAL ENTRY was first released, the premise is laughable.
December 10th, 2011 at 11:40 am
Even as big a fan of Howard Duff as I am, I found it difficult to be any more positive about this movie than I was in this review!
December 10th, 2011 at 11:56 am
I think the problem with Illegal Entry is the directorial handling. There are serious issues alluded to in the material, coupled with sensual and violent threats to the principal character. The cast and story are there. Duff, more than adequate. Marta Toren, an incredible screen presence and tragic figure off screen is under utlized, as are Paul Stewart and George Brent, despite the good billing. Too bad.
December 10th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Movies in which Märta Torén appeared which I’ve commented on so far on this blog:
SPY HUNT https://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=8442
ROGUES’ REGIMENT https://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=12397
and ILLEGAL ENTRY.
I’ve also recently seen SIROCCO, but for some reason, I never got around to reviewing it.
Married to Leonardo Bercovici in 1952, she died of a brain hemorrhage in 1957, only 31 years old.
December 10th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Steve:
Know that you reviewed Rogue’s Regiment. I commented about Dick Powell and Johnny O’Clock. That director got every value out of the material.