Excellent adaptation.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Despite an all-star cast and having a well-respected director, a multi-Oscar-winning cinematographer and the legendary Miklos Rosza on board, this crime drama didn't win much favour with either the public or the critics at the time of its initial release. This was probably because its inconsistent pacing makes it lose impetus at certain points. In other respects, however, it's very entertaining with an intriguing plot, a collection of shady characters and a spectacular finale.Based on a story by Frederick Nebel, it focuses on the moral dilemma that an honourable guy faces when the temptations of a beautiful woman and a financial bribe make him question his own integrity which he'd always previously taken for granted.Rigby (Robert Taylor) is a U.S. Federal Agent who's sent to the island of Carlota off the coast of Central America to investigate a racket involving the theft of military surplus equipment and the subsequent smuggling of aircraft motors to South America. The perpetrators are known to be making millions of dollars in profits and initially, the only known suspects are ex-World War 11 pilot, Tug Hintten (John Hodiak) and his wife Elizabeth (Ava Gardner). On arrival at Los Trancos (a popular fishing town), Rigby makes his way to a café called "Pedro's" where he wastes no time in getting to know Elizabeth who works there as a singer. The couple's friendship quickly develops into a romance and surprisingly, the often inebriated Tug doesn't seem too concerned.Rigby becomes curious about a dishevelled-looking man with bad feet who seems to be everywhere he goes and later comes to suspect that J.J. Bealer (Charles Laughton), has some connection with a mine owner called Carwood (Vincent Price) who Rigby had first met on the plane when he was flying down to Carlota. Hoping to find some clues about Carwood's possible involvement in the smuggling racket, Rigby goes on a fishing trip with him and is lucky to escape with his life after falling into the sea after Carwood causes the boat to jerk forward suddenly. Rigby only survives due to the bravery of the boatman Emilio Gomez (Tito Renaldo) who's tragically killed in the act of rescuing him.Following this incident, Rigby visits Emilio's father who tells him that Carwood is the mastermind of the racket and this causes Rigby to consider what his next move should be. His duty is to report his findings to his superiors but because Bealer's offered him a substantial bribe and he's unsure whether Elizabeth is guilty of any crimes, his immediate inclination is to take the money and use it to escape the island with the woman he loves. The surprising events that follow then suddenly change everything.The movie's tropical setting brilliantly reflects the heat of the passion that drives Rigby into being prepared to abandon his integrity and generates a claustrophobic atmosphere which is beautifully complemented by Joseph Ruttenberg's expressionistic cinematography. Ruttenberg's work also plays a major part in the success of the well-filmed shoot-out at a firework display which provides the film with its exciting climax. A top class cast also provides a number of memorable performances with Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner making their steamy romance look very convincing and Charles Laughton and Vincent Price both excellent as the two main villains of the piece. The script also sparkles in places with lines like "I never knew a crooked road could look so straight" (Rigby) and "They get the chair twice as hot for bumping off a Fed" (Bealer).

Spoiler Warning end mentioned! **A compilation summary in my words of highlights & best thats revealed in the reviews & story summaries: Usual glossy high MGM production values. Federal agent Rigby (Taylor), in Central America island to trace stolen airplane engines, falls for the gorgeous wife of his chief suspect. Wife, sultry singer (Gardner) tries to tempt this federal agent from the straight-and-narrow. Taylor seams uncomfortable playing law man who almost sacrifices all for sultry singer Gardner. All in all the love scenes are sincere, probably due to Taylor and Gardner having an affair at the time of the filming, although Taylor was married to Barbara Stanwyck. The final shot-out between Taylor and villain Vincent Price during a carnival, is stylish, interesting, has the elements of death and joy which are effectively juxtaposed and it is both exciting & visually marvelous. The last sequence is worthy of sticking with the movie until it's end. **In pursuit of the stolen aircraft engines on a Central American island, federal undercover agent Rigby (Taylor) meets his chief suspect Hintten (Hodiak) and suspects wife Elizabeth (Gardner), who's a sultry café singer; and is watched by Bealer (Laughton), a "pie-shaped man" with sore feet. Rigby (Taylor) knows he's on the right track when Bealer (Laughton) offers him money to leave fictional island of Carlotta. When Rigby (Taylor) and Elizabeth (Gardner) are drawn to each other, the gang realizes there's more than one kind of bribe. Everybody sweats. Laughton is fabulous as the slovenly loser whose feet hurt, and Price is excellent, as the head villain. singer; and is being watched by Bealer (Laughton), the "pie-shaped man" with sore feet. Rigby (Taylor) finds he is on right track when Bealer (Laughton) offers him money to leave the fictional island of Carlotta. When Rigby (Taylor) & Elizabeth (Gardner) draw close to each other, the gang realizes there are more than kinds of bribes than money. All sweat in the tropical heat. Laughton is fabulous movie stealer as the slovenly loser whose feet are always hurting, and Price is also excellent, as the head villain.

what a shame, this could have been an iconic film noir but it is, if not spoiled, at least hurt by some bad casting and bad performances. Good enough plot and great characters. Ava Gardner at her luminous best and Charles Laughton in the best characterization of his career. Unfortunately Vincent Price needed to dial it back about 30% in the first half of the film; when he finally turned into the bad guy he was right on key. Perhaps he has only one 'happy' character to play and that was it. Richard Widmark in his less manic or Richard Conte would have been great. The biggest negative in this cast was Robert Taylor in his typical coarse way. His emoting is confined to the lower half of his face and his characterizations are always intensely shallow and unaffecting. Kirk Douglas or Bogart would have made this into a film of the level of Casablanca.

If you like a full cast of great veteran actors, this B&W film is perfect to entertain you from beginning to the very end. Robert Taylor,(Rigby) is a Government Agent assigned to investigate the misuse of Government surplus from World War II and mostly airplane engines that were being smuggled out of Central America and sold to other countries. Rigby is given some information to lead him in the right direction to find out just who is involved in this operation. Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Hintten, is married to John Hodiak,(Tug Hintten) and Rigby gets very involved with this couple and especially Tug's wife. There is a creepy, dirty fat looking guy, played by Charles Laughton,(J.J. Bealer) who follows Rigby like his own shadow. Vincent Price,(Carwood) met Rigby on the airplane going to Central America and met him once again for a fishing trip to catch a swordfish and Carwood gets confused and throws the boat's engine into reverse and causes all kinds of problems. If you like veteran actors giving outstanding performances, this is the film for you.