Watch Borderline
- Approved
- 1950
- 1 hr 28 min
-
6.0 (1,568)
Borderline is a 1950 American film noir directed by William A. Seiter and starring Fred MacMurray, Claire Trevor, and Raymond Burr. The movie tells the story of Pete Ritchie (MacMurray), an undercover police officer who infiltrates a gang of smugglers involved in the illegal trade of Mexican immigrants across the border into the United States.
The opening sequence shows Pete being released from jail after serving a sentence for his involvement in a robbery. He is then recruited by the police department to work undercover and help put an end to the smuggling ring run by Joe Kozdek (Burr), a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing to achieve his ends.
Pete's job is to gain the trust of the gang members and to gather evidence that will lead to their arrest. He gets a job as a truck driver and starts transporting the immigrants across the border. While on the job, he meets and falls in love with the beautiful Mexican immigrant, Marcy (Trevor). However, he soon realizes that his love for her is in conflict with his duty as a police officer to bring down the criminal organization that she is connected to.
As the story progresses, Pete becomes deeply involved in the operations of the smuggling ring, making him question his morals and his loyalty to the police department. He must decide between his love for Marcy and his duty to uphold the law.
The film has a typical film noir atmosphere, with dark shadows and tension-filled scenes. The camera work is excellent, with close-ups and low angles adding to the feeling of unease throughout the movie.
The acting is also superb, with MacMurray giving a convincing portrayal of the conflicted and tormented undercover police officer. Claire Trevor is excellent as the vulnerable and tragic Marcy, while Raymond Burr is menacing as the ruthless gangster Kozdek.
One interesting aspect of the movie is that it touches on the issue of Mexican immigration into the United States, which, even though it is a contemporary issue, is addressed in this film. The movie portrays the issues surrounding illegal immigration and its impact on families, as well as the criminal organizations that profit from it.
Overall, Borderline is a gripping and fascinating film noir that is worth watching. It has all the elements of a classic film noir, with a tormented protagonist, dark shadows, and an atmosphere of unease that pervades the entire story. The film touches on important contemporary issues while telling a compelling story that keeps the audience engaged until the end.
Borderline is a 1950 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.