MACAO

US, 1952, 89 minutes, Black and White.
Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, William Bendix, Gloria Grahame, Thomas Gomez.
Co-directed by Josef von Sternberg and Nicholas Ray.

Macao is a brief, routine action thriller of the early '50s. It teams Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell, who appeared in John Farrow's His Kind of Woman. William Bendix gives his usual sturdy supporting performance. Gloria Grahame (married at the time to co-director Nicholas Ray) also has a small role. The film is of interest as being principally directed by Josef von Sternberg, celebrated German director from the '20s who moved to Hollywood in the '30s, especially the mastermind of the career of Marlene Dietrich. Jane Russell gets the opportunity to sing `One for the Road, Set 'Em Up Joe.'

1.Enjoyable action thriller? Of the period? The work of Josef von Sternberg?

2.Black and white photography, Macao settings, the settings of the gangster film, songs and cabaret?

3.The real Macao, Asian port, Europe? Symbol? Its post-war status?

4.The boat and the opening, the introduction to the characters, mood, their interactions, going through Customs?

5.Robert Mitchum as Nick, the wanderer, his story about leaving New York, wandering Asia? Attraction to Julie? Friendship with Trumble? The encounter with Sebastian? Wanting a job, mistaken for the police, Julie stealing his wallet? The set-up with Trumble, the jewel, his being knocked down and kept guard? Margie and her attraction, getting Julie to come, letting him go? The truth, Trumble's death? The plan with Julie, the fight, the hopes to go back to America?

6.Jane Russell's style as Julie, wandering the world, stealing the wallet, being offered the job, her songs, the relationship with Halloran, falling in love with Nick, clash with him, going to see him, judging rashly, helping him with the final plan?

7.Trumble, his talk, the American salesman, the irony of his being the policeman, the plan with the jewel, the message to America, his death?

8.Halloran, owning Macao, his henchmen, the club, protection, tough, fear of Nick, attracted to Julie, Margie, her turning against him, going out of the three-mile limit, being caught? The violence of his henchmen?

9.Margie, the gangster's moll, around the hotel and club, her helping Nick?

10.Popular ingredients of a conventional thriller?