Trapped (1949)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

When counterfeit money starts turning up around Los Angeles, the Treasury Department recognizes the funny money as the work of Tris Stewart (Lloyd Bridges) who has been in prison for several years.This was directed by Richard Fleischer, h had just recently won the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary, for "Design for Death" (1947). Fleischer went on to make countless great films, including "Soylent Green" and "Conan the Destroyer".This film is solid as far as film noir goes, or maybe b-movie film noir. The problem is the public domain. The copy I watched looks terrible. The film was fine, but the quality was awful. If someone were to swoop in and fix it up, this might be a better-regarded film.

Money counterfeiting is the subject of this enjoyable, if predictable, crime drama where a convicted counterfeiter (Lloyd Bridges in a very serious role) is offered the possibility of early parole if he helps the Department of the Treasury capture and convict those who have continued Bridges' counterfeiting racket while he's been behind bars. Of course, Bridges isn't on the up and up as he utilizes this plan to escape from prison and reconcile with his former girlfriend (the gorgeous Barbara Payton) who has divided loyalties of her own.Practically every government bureau has been a part of a documentary style crime drama or film noir where it is obvious that the writers are showing that "You can't get away with it", and here, that is obvious from the start as to the theme of the movie. The film starts off with the plight of a struggling restaurant owner who discovers that the $20 bill she took in earlier was a fake and how that money could make or break her. It is obvious that when the feds confront Bridges in prison to bargain with him that he won't follow through with his agreement and that adds a sense of falsehood to the plot.There's a few exciting chase sequences and some wonderful moments of dialog between Bridges and the bleach-blonde Payton, some tense moments where the undercover fed's cover is blown, and a stunningly violent conclusion. This makes the film overall acceptable, but it has been done many times before and since, and much better.

This was a good movie. Considering that it was probably made on a shoestring budget, it was a very good movie. Personally, I enjoy a good plot and storyline and this picture had it; it was interesting and absorbing throughout. Pacing was good and the picture moved along at a brisk pace. There was very little if any padding material.Good job by Lloyd Bridges, who had not yet made it big. It had a good cast of dependable character actors. I did not know the sad story of Barbara Payton until I read it on the website, and she was very good as Bridges' girlfriend. It must have been Director Richard Fleischer's first solid hit, as he went on to have a pretty distinguished career in Hollywood.If it ever comes on one of the movie channels do yourself a favor and see it, even if you're not a cops-and-robbers fan.

This is a fine, dark, nasty little movie. It's very well directed by Richard Fleischer. It takes place in a scary night town version of San Francisco.Lloyd Bridges plays a character with the unusual first name Tris. Short for Tristan, I suppose. Real-life bad-girl Barbara Payton is no Isolde. Payton is good as his romantic interest, though.The film begins with a scene in which someone is discovered to have counterfeit money. Bridges is in prison but is tapped by the Feds to help break up the counterfeiting ring. And it takes off from there.There are double-crosses, confused identities. The supporting cast is excellent. Crime may not pay but we have some pretty interesting criminals in this story.