Rigby, a federal agent, is asked to go South to Carlota, a small island off Central America, where a suspected smuggler has been operating. His mission is to get to know the operation and trap the man responsible for doing the illegal activity. On the flight down, he meets a friendly fellow American, Carwood, who is on his way to South America. Rigby makes believe he is a big game fisherman and his new friend tells him he will stop on the way back.
On Carlota, Rigby meets Tug Hinten, a drunkard, who is his main suspect, and his wife, Elizabeth, a singer, at one of the island's watering holes. The attraction between Rigby and Elizabeth is apparent. She is a disillusioned woman in a bad marriage. Rigby is intrigued by one man that seems to show up everywhere, Bealer. What the fed man doesn't know is that Bealer has been working with Carwood and knows a lot about the newly arrived tourist.
When Carwood arrives in Carlota, he wants to renew his acquaintance with Rigby. What Rigby doesn't know is that his new friend has something else in mind. Carwood proves he has come to take care of Rigby by trying to kill the agent during a fishing expedition. Bealer, an obese man with bad feet, knows much more about the criminal activities going on in the island. By the time Rigby realizes Carwood is not who he pretends to be, it's too late for Hinten. The final confrontation is between Carwood and Rigby during carnival where both men have the final battle among the impressive fireworks display.
This MGM 1949 film was clearly a vehicle for its two stars, the gorgeous Ava Gardner and the handsome Robert Taylor. As directed by Robert Z. Leonard, "The Bribe" is not one of his most memorable pictures, but what it lacks in Marguerite Roberts' screenplay, is out weighed by some amazing performances. The last sequence is worth to stick with the movie until the end.
Charles Laughton, who plays J.J. Bealer, makes an amazing appearance as the ambitious man that literally steals the show from its stars. Vincent Price is also at his best with his own take of Carwood, the criminal mind behind all the criminal activity in Carlota. Ava Gardner graces the picture with her beauty. Robert Taylor is effective as Rigby.
The cinematographer, Joseph Ruttenberg, did a fine job with crisp images, especially the ones involving the finale. Miklos Rosza score contributes to create the right atmosphere.
On Carlota, Rigby meets Tug Hinten, a drunkard, who is his main suspect, and his wife, Elizabeth, a singer, at one of the island's watering holes. The attraction between Rigby and Elizabeth is apparent. She is a disillusioned woman in a bad marriage. Rigby is intrigued by one man that seems to show up everywhere, Bealer. What the fed man doesn't know is that Bealer has been working with Carwood and knows a lot about the newly arrived tourist.
When Carwood arrives in Carlota, he wants to renew his acquaintance with Rigby. What Rigby doesn't know is that his new friend has something else in mind. Carwood proves he has come to take care of Rigby by trying to kill the agent during a fishing expedition. Bealer, an obese man with bad feet, knows much more about the criminal activities going on in the island. By the time Rigby realizes Carwood is not who he pretends to be, it's too late for Hinten. The final confrontation is between Carwood and Rigby during carnival where both men have the final battle among the impressive fireworks display.
This MGM 1949 film was clearly a vehicle for its two stars, the gorgeous Ava Gardner and the handsome Robert Taylor. As directed by Robert Z. Leonard, "The Bribe" is not one of his most memorable pictures, but what it lacks in Marguerite Roberts' screenplay, is out weighed by some amazing performances. The last sequence is worth to stick with the movie until the end.
Charles Laughton, who plays J.J. Bealer, makes an amazing appearance as the ambitious man that literally steals the show from its stars. Vincent Price is also at his best with his own take of Carwood, the criminal mind behind all the criminal activity in Carlota. Ava Gardner graces the picture with her beauty. Robert Taylor is effective as Rigby.
The cinematographer, Joseph Ruttenberg, did a fine job with crisp images, especially the ones involving the finale. Miklos Rosza score contributes to create the right atmosphere.