Seeing 30s icons Edward G. Robinson and George Raft teamed up in a movie after many years, one would expect to see a reprise of their gangster roles from the earlier period. Not so.
This one has Joe Victor (Raft) being recruited in Lisbon, where he has been living - broke, to coordinate a planned kidnapping in Montreal of nuclear scientist Dr. Carl Macklin (George Dolenz). Eric Hartman (Peter Van Eyck) is the brains behind the plot.
When a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable (RCMP) is murdered Inspector Leduc (Robinson) enters the case. Meanwhile Victor assembles his old gang including former girl friend Joyce Geary (Audrey Totter) and Jack Allen (Bill Bryant). Joyce is tasked with wooing the scientist. Allen meanwhile courts Macklin's secretary Yvonne Tremblay (Toni Geary) with tragic results.
After three murders the kidnapping takes place and.........................
Robinson and Raft were both well past their respective "best before" dates at this time. Robinson (and pipe) sleepwalk through the first three quarters of the film. Similarly, Raft spends the same period in a farm house blandly handing out orders to his underlings. The climax of the story takes place in the final quarter where most of the action takes place. The ending is pure Hollywood especially where Raft's character is concerned.
One has to wonder what Robinson, playing an RCMP inspector would look like in the force's dress uniform red tunic, breeches and wide brim hat. Besides I'm sure that he wouldn't meet the force's height and age restrictions.
George Dolenz is the father of Monkees' Mickey Dolenz. Sally Blane who plays the secretary's sister was the sister of Loretta Young.
This one has Joe Victor (Raft) being recruited in Lisbon, where he has been living - broke, to coordinate a planned kidnapping in Montreal of nuclear scientist Dr. Carl Macklin (George Dolenz). Eric Hartman (Peter Van Eyck) is the brains behind the plot.
When a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable (RCMP) is murdered Inspector Leduc (Robinson) enters the case. Meanwhile Victor assembles his old gang including former girl friend Joyce Geary (Audrey Totter) and Jack Allen (Bill Bryant). Joyce is tasked with wooing the scientist. Allen meanwhile courts Macklin's secretary Yvonne Tremblay (Toni Geary) with tragic results.
After three murders the kidnapping takes place and.........................
Robinson and Raft were both well past their respective "best before" dates at this time. Robinson (and pipe) sleepwalk through the first three quarters of the film. Similarly, Raft spends the same period in a farm house blandly handing out orders to his underlings. The climax of the story takes place in the final quarter where most of the action takes place. The ending is pure Hollywood especially where Raft's character is concerned.
One has to wonder what Robinson, playing an RCMP inspector would look like in the force's dress uniform red tunic, breeches and wide brim hat. Besides I'm sure that he wouldn't meet the force's height and age restrictions.
George Dolenz is the father of Monkees' Mickey Dolenz. Sally Blane who plays the secretary's sister was the sister of Loretta Young.