Borderline (1950)

Lack of good storyline.

Fresh and Exciting

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

What starts off as your standard film noir with a nicely set up plot line ends up with two much comedy that takes the story nowhere. It's all about federal investigator Claire Trevor showing up in the Mexican outback to get the goods on drug lord Raymond Burr and ending up on the run with fellow agent Fred MacMurray whom she has no idea is there for the same reason. He catches her in Burr's motel room, and she overhears him making some sort of deal with Burr, so their lines are more than just a little crossed. Somehow they end up together on the road wanted by the Mexican police, and it's way too obvious where this plot line is going. Fresh from an Oscar win, Trevor is tough, independent and self assured; he's less defined, being, well...Fred MacMurray. In his few scenes, Burr gets to reveal a lot more than MacMurray does. Typical silly circumstances involving native Mexicans shows them either far too happy go lucky, or overly suspicious (a heavyset nagging wife) or stereotypically drunk. This isn't bad, but it's so close in plot to "The Big Steal" that I'm surprised that RKO didn't sue Universal. The Mexican actors take it all in stride, and way down the line, Charles Lane pops up in a bit, making you ask for the hundredth time, "Wow! Is he in everything?"

No actress played "Cheap Broad" better than Claire Trevor. She is the high point in this film. In this film she is a high class dame pretending to be a "cheap Broad", and she manages to do with with little to no help from the script. Fred MacMurray plays a character who is both a romantic lead, and an apparent bad guy. His character is radically different from the character he played on "my Three Sons".Raymond Burr plays a very convincing villain. His character is also very different from the character he played on "Perry Mason".The weak point in this film is "Mexico", or at least Hollywood's concept of Mexico in 1950. The location shots are actually filmed in the Greater Los Angeles area - in areas which look nothing at all like Baja California.This film also is very contrary in its portrayal of Latino characters - especially Latinas. Many of the characters are not people but rather cartoon-ish characters.

"Borderline" was a big disappointment, given the expectations I had from the MacMurray-Trevor star duo. They played their roles gamely in this awkwardly scripted, boringly directed melodrama (with light comedy overtones). If you forget about the tedious, poorly motivated plot line, there are a few enjoyably light and playful scenes between the two stars (both of whom look great, especially Trevor). They have good chemistry, and the inevitable romance that interferes with their respective drug enforcement chores (only because each believes the other is a criminal), works, despite the lazy script development. The romance works so well, in fact, that the plot demand that MacMurray turn Trevor in seems pretty unbelievable.On a minor level, "Borderline" is interesting for its mid-20th century Hollywood depiction of Mexico and Mexicans. Lots of stereotyping, primarily for questionable comic effect. I disagree with IMDb's characterization of speaking "Mexican" as a goof. It struck me as intentional. That's the way some people talked then (and the way some people still do).

This is a forgettable movie about an attempt to find drug smugglers in Mexico. The principle character smash into each other, Raymond Burr, the bad guy waits in the wings, and everything else is predictable and pat. Fred MacMurray played a of heavies for a while, and, at least for the larger portion of the movie, he's one here. There is so much gunfire and violence that goes nowhere, we have to wonder how careless people can be. If anyone in the movie had a brain, it would not have lasted more than a half hour. There is a little bit of dramatic irony from time to time that is entertaining, and a few sparks from the two characters, but it needed some substance. Burr is formidable and yet incredibly stupid. Not really worth the trouble.