|
Rating:  -
I am a noir film buff and think that Mitchum played in some of the best of this type of film. Macao is an excellent film with co-stars William Bendix and Jane Russell. It has plenty of intrigue and a good well developed plot sufficient keep the viewer's interest througout the film.
Rating: -
"Macao" is the film noir for those who think all film noir is gloomy and deprerssing. Yes, Mitchum sleepwalks through his "Bob, Son of Bogie" role as an American adventurer kicking around the mysterious Orient. Jane Russell gets to look fetching and sing a few songs but this one is basically a light workout for all concerned. Lacking the comedic flair of its predecessor "His Kind of Woman!", "Macao" sort of works as a not-terribly-serious manhunt drama. I suppose the fun for hardcore cineastes is trying to figure out where Josef von Sternberg's work leaves off and Nicholas Ray's patch-up job begins. Strangely enough, it all works just fine and what might have been a mess becomes a commendable '50s adventure/thriller that happens to reside "in the vicinity of" film noir.
Rating: -
Nick Cochran (Robert Mitchum) and Julie Benson (Jane Russell) bump lips on a ship to Macao. She's looking to serenade gamblers while Nick is there looking for trouble. Surrounded by knife throwing henchmen, American casino owner Vincent Halloran (Brad Dexter) suspects one of three new Macao visitors is an undercover detective. Naturally this concerns him since he moves hot jewels throughout Asia. A bumbling salesman named Lawrence Trumble (William Bendix) becomes a casino sap. Offering competition to Holloran's girlfriend Margie (Gloria Grahame), Julie rather stiffly switches and sashays to her own lullabies while Nick fences baubles and dodges switchblades between fishing boats.
With a moderate level of suspense, Mitchum and Russell make up for any plot deficiencies. There are a few surprises and foot chases, but for this to be a true Film Noir, I would expect more plot twists and a true femme fatale (like in ANGEL FACE or OUT OF THE PAST). Again, the lead actors (and the females' wordrobes) make up for most script shortcomings.
Before his death in 1997, Mitchum and Russell sat down with Osborne for a 30-minute interview, which makes a nice bonus on the DVD. Mitchum, who did not age gracefully, exhibits his popularized care-less attitude and uncharacteristic bad taste in clothing during the interview.
MACAO is a good movie if you eliminate the notion that this is a thrilling Film Noir. There is suspense and even some lighthearted comedy. If you enjoy watching Mitchum or Russell, MACAO comprises half the collection of films featuring the dynamic duo.
Movie quote: "That's the first time I ever saw a warden dolled up in a negligee."
Rating:  -
"Macao" is one of those fast-paced adventure yarns that's thoroughly enjoyable to watch---providing you don't think too hard. What is basically a pulp story (complete with stereotypes) is put over with irresistible panache by the stars. Jane Russell as a been-around saloon singer and Robert Mitchum as a been-around chump on the lam collide in the exotic waterfront locale of Macao and get tangled up with a very sinister vice king, a crooked cop, "traveling salesman" William Bendix and the vice king's sultry girlfriend Gloria Grahame. Lots of action and double entendre as the sparks fly between Russell and Mitchum. Russell and Grahame wear some very sexy outfits as each is a femme fatale in conflicting positions. Nice b&w DVD print. This is one of about 5 films Grahame did in 1952---the year she won Best Supporting actress for "The Bad & the Beautiful". Enjoy.
Rating: -
"Macao" is a classic thriller that places two attractive stars in an exotic locale with underworld intrigue and plenty of local color. As a passenger ship from Hong Kong pulls into Macao's harbor, Nick Cochran (Robert Mitchum) rescues shapely Julie Benson (Jane Russell) from a male companion who has gotten too grabby, only to find that the lady pinched his wallet and passport in return. Without his passport, Nick is mistaken for an undercover cop by local Portuguese police chief Lieutenant Sebastian (Thomas Gomez), who is on the payroll of Macao's crime boss Vincent Halloran (Brad Dexter). Halloran has done away with a string of American police detectives sent to arrest him. And the case of mistaken identity induces him to offer Nick a sweet deal to leave Macao and to employ Julie as a singer in his casino. But the real American police officer (William Bendix) is passing himself off as an affable salesman and wants Nick's help in luring Halloran off of the island.
There is nothing probing or complicated about "Macao". It's a fun thriller with charismatic stars who look good together. The film is sometimes categorized as "film noir" but this is a conventional thriller that is only noir in the thinnest sense: The identity confusion and Nick's immediate, oddly submissive acceptance of its consequences. Howard Hughes hired Josef von Sternberg to direct "Macao" then replaced him with Nicholas Ray partway through filming on account of his draconian disposition. "Macao" turned out pretty seamless though, unlike some of Hughes multiple-director productions. While this isn't a demanding role for Robert Mitchum, it is typical of his nonchalant swagger and bravado. "Macao" is simply an enjoyable romp for fans of Mitchum or Jane Russell.
The DVD (Warner Brothers 2007): "Private Screening with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell" (30 min) is an interview hosted by Robert Osborne that aired on Turner Classic Movies channel. Mitchum and Russell, who were longtime friends, answer questions and discuss the 2 films they made together, Howard Hughes, working at RKO versus bigger studios, and show business colleagues. There is an audio commentary by film noir historian Eddie Muller and one of the film's screenwriters, Stanley Rubin. Jane Russell taped some commentary separately that is occasionally interjected. This is a general commentary, not a scene-by-scene analysis. Rubin discusses the screenplay, why he didn't get to produce the film as he had expected, his experiences with the personalities involved in the movie and in the film industry in general. Muller primarily asks Rubin questions and steers the nearly-constant commentary. Subtitles for the film are available in English.
Television Show
Collectibles
Movie Searches
|
|
|
Search for posters,
art prints, photos, collectables, merchandise, toys, t-shirts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TV Guide
Program listings, celebrity profiles, industry
gossip, movie reviews, puzzle.
More
Entertainment
& TV Magazines
This site is
Hosted
by Bluehost
Read
my Bluehost Review
Most Popular TV collectibles
|
|
Home
Articles
Images
Forum
Search
Shopping
TV Trivia
Watch TV
Wallpaper
