The Bribe (1949)

Well acted, well cast, film noir that's weighted down by a sluggish plot.  Its an 85 minute story crammed into a 98 minute movie. Federal Agent Robert Taylor goes to South American to stop a gang of crooks that include lovely Ava Gardner*, a crafty Charles Laughton, and untrustworthy Vincent Price**.  It has its moments, its ends with a bang, and  Laughton is marvelous - but its only moderate entertainment.  Summary: When you have a great cast and its a "forgotten movie" - its usually justified. Part of the problem is Taylor*** - he's a little too aloof - his character needed more sizzle. Rating 2.5 of 4

Notes
* - Gardner sings, but is dubbed.  Too bad, because Ava had a nice voice as shown by outtakes from Show Boat.
 ** - Usually, Vincent Price strikes me as an unconvincing villain, he's simply too good-natured and likable.  However, in The Bribe, this characteristic is used to good effect.  Here Price only *appears* to be a nice, affable chap - he's actually a snake of the highest (or lowest) order.
*** - I've always liked Robert Taylor, and his only sin was being less charismatic than the competition.  Supposedly, he hated doing "Sword and Sandal" movies and being a Knight, but he was excellent in those roles. His war movies and westerns always come up short, primarily because other leading men got the best roles.  Understandably. Its tough to think of a 40s/50s war movie or western where you'd want Robert Taylor instead of James Stewart, Burt Lancaster, John Wayne or Greg Peck.  Other stars, like Alan Ladd, Dana Andrews and Tyrone Power, had the same problem.  People forget there were only so many good parts every year in Hollywood, and everyone was explicitly (or implicitly) competing for them.  Cary Grant used to compare Stardom to a crowded streetcar. There were only so many seats, and if someone got on, someone else had to get off.