Interpol (1957)

The Worst Film Ever

Beautiful, moving film.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Producers: Irving Allen, Albert R. Broccoli. A Warwick Production, released through Columbia Pictures. Copyright 1957 by Warwick Film Productions. No New York opening. U.S. release: August 1957. U.K. release: 6 May 1957. Australian release: 10 October 1957. The full 94 minutes version was released only in Australia. Elsewhere the film was cut to slightly less than 92 minutes.U.K. release title: INTERPOL. U.S.A. release title: PICKUP ALLEY. Australian release title: INTERNATIONAL POLICE.SYNOPSIS: The United States Anti-Narcotics Squad smashes an international drug ring.VIEWERS' GUIDE: Adults.COMMENT: A superior thriller, "Pickup Alley" challenges the best efforts of Samuel Fuller and other masters of American noir who are still spoken of so reverently today. But John Gilling seems to be forgotten. Yet his reliance on Ted Moore's and Stan Pavey's fantastic camera-work, plus taut editing and his own bravura compositions, signal that he is not only a master of the CinemaScope image but a potent creator. Despite familiar script material, he has directed in such a well-knit yet breathtakingly machine-gun-paced style, everything we see on the screen all seems totally topical.OTHER VIEWS: Despite extensive location shooting in London, Paris, Rome, Athens and New York, and an elaborate, elliptical sub-Welles plot, this film suffers from obvious and unresourceful type-casting, though Trevor Howard plays with jaded relish. – Monthly Film Bulletin.

Film Noir concerning drug trafficking and revenge. The rugged Victor Mature plays a U.S. Narcotics agent, Charles Sturgis, who's sister was murdered trying to pass on information about a drug dealer. Sturgis will become a man obsessed tracking down an international drug boss Frank McNally(Trevor Howard). This will not be an easy self-assigned task since the drug kingpin has above average abilities of disguise. Sturgis will follow a beautiful accomplice, Gina Broger(Anita Ekberg)through "pickup alleys" in not just New York, but Spain, Italy and England too. Interpol will recommend special help. This movie runs 1 hr and 32 minutes, but at times seems a lot longer. You might say there is a lack of action; but you have Ekberg to follow around. Acting is not her strong suit. As for Mature, his characters may change, but his acting method appears to stay the same. Some nice European scenery.Other players: Bonar Colleano, Peter Illing, Martin Benson, Dorothy Allison and Sydney Tafler.

This is quite an entertaining & energetic crime movie, which rattles along at a fairly brisk pace, but suffers somewhat from lack of character depth, and interaction between the characters. The leads all play their respective roles professionally and with a degree of panache, with the oily and sinister Trevor Howard particularly effective. Bonar Colleano also contributes a likable cameo as a fast-talking, quick-witted exiled American. In the central role, Victor Mature is dour and doesn't really get the opportunity to express more of his character's dual purpose of personal revenge and bringing an arch criminal to justice. Although there are many similar type films to this, I feel that it stands worthy comparison to many of them and is certainly deserving of release on DVD.

This was an interesting film which starred Victor Mature, (Charles Sturgis) who was a US Narcotics Agent working with Interpol in order to catch a large dope smuggling operation. Gina Broger, (Anita Ekberg) played a young gal who was working with a big shot dope king, Frank McNally, (Trevor Howard) and was only working with him because he kept her against her will and would not let her go. There is plenty of travel into Lisbon, Greece and New York and it seemed at times that Charles Sturgis was running around in circles. Trevor Howard gave a great supporting role along with Anita Ekberg, but this film was definitely a low budget film and because this was a 1957 film, the gals all wore skirts down to their ankles.