This story takes place near the Mexican border, where Dick Powell plays a sort of private eye in charge by a wealthy man to keep an eye on his son. In that purpose, he impersonates a bartender, so that he can approach the young man in question. Don't expect a brutal noir routine but instead a light drama, and not really a comedy either. Good atmosphere, good dialogues and acting too to fill a rather flat story. Flat but not totally uninteresting, and I would say rather unusual, Actually the wealthy man's son is involved in a large car stealing and heroine traffic business from which our lead will be in charge to take him off. That's only near the very end that it becomes a crime scheme. Look out for the reason why Powell's character did all this for the boy. That's absolutely touching.
Well, a good piece of work from Ralph Nelson.
Well, a good piece of work from Ralph Nelson.
