A real delight - there's no other film quite like it. Two thirds or so consists of familiar third world noir, with Bob Mitchum in laconic hunky form as a drifter who agrees to go missing to help a gangster into the country. When we first meet Mitch he's a bit of a loser, hanging out in dingy dives and getting smacked around, but once he sees Jane Russell on the plane to the resort he perks up and when he arrives he's super smart. (Even helping a drippy kid on his honeymoon win some money so he can have sex with his wife a la Casablanca - if Mitch is so smart how did he get so broke?)
Mitchum and Russell were one of the great scream teams and it's a shame they couldn't have worked more often; they have terrific chemistry, especially when he's rubbing lotion into her back. She looks wonderful, all legs and swimsuits and slinky gowns, singing songs and exchanging banter.
The supporting characters at the resort are a strong bunch - Raymond Burr is as always a strong villain, Jim Backus is enigmatic as a guest, Tim Holt turns up as a government cop (Holt was always popping up in classics - he's not bad here, although not a very convincing drunk), John Mylong as a creepy author, Charles McGraw as a tough guy.
Most of all there is Vincent Price, who initially appears as Russell's false love interest (no real threat because Mitchum and Russell are so into each other), but then for the last third becomes the film's hero when this movie is turned totally on its head and becomes a glorious tongue in cheek romp: Mitchum keeps getting knocked out, Russell disappears, and Prince hams it up wonderfully.
This is probably overlong (two hours is pushing it) - Backus should either have been used more or cut out, I didn't particularly care for the newlyweds. But a real romp and proof that Howard Hughes' meddling sometimes made his films more fun. Lots of lovely touches like Mitchum ironing money.
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