Borderline ** (1950, Fred MacMurray, Claire Trevor, Raymond Burr) – Classic Movie Review 11,026

‘Two Undercover Agents Unwittingly Stalk the Same Target.’

Director William A Seiter’s 1950 black and white film noir crime drama Borderline stars Fred MacMurray and Claire Trevor as undercover cops Johnny Macklin and Madeleine Haley looking for drug smugglers down Mexico way, who do not know whether to trust each other, and they certainly should not trust Pete Ritchie (Raymond Burr), as he is involved in smuggling drugs into the US.

Borderline has good stars, giving reliable performances, and there is plenty of interest in the story and screenplay, but there is a tone problem of a film falling between adventure, film noir thriller, crime drama, detective movie, chase film and comedy.

The story and screenplay are by Devery Freeman.

Also in the cast are Roy Roberts, José Torvay, Morris Ankrum, Charles Lane, Richard Irving, Pepe Hern, Nacho Galindo, Grazia Narciso and Don Diamond.

After the 1950 copyright lapsed in the 1970s, the film was considered to be in the public domain.

It was independently produced as the first production of Borderline Pictures Inc, formed by producer Milton H Bren, director-producer William A Seiter and actor Fred MacMurray. The three men and Claire Trevor deferred their salaries to produce the film.

Borderline is directed by William A Seiter, runs 88 minutes, is made by Milton H Bren and William A Seiter Productions, is released  by Universal Pictures (1950) (US) and General Film Distributors (1950) (UK), is written by Devery Freeman, is shot in black and white by Lucien Andriot, is produced by Milton H Bren and scored by Hans J Salter.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,026

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