LADY WITHOUT A PASSPORT
US, 1950, 74 minutes. Black and white.
Hedy Lamarr, John Hodiak, James Craig, George Macready, Steven Geray.
Directed by Joseph H. Lewis.
Lady Without A Passport is a small film, a supporting feature from MGM. Hedy Lamarr had been a featured actress at MGM during the 1940s and had just made Samson and Delilah. However, the 1950s were not kind to her and she appeared in only a few films including My Favourite Spy. John Hodiak was a solid actor at this time but had an untimely death. James Craig was also a featured actor at MGM. George Macready was an expert villain in so many films, especially in Gilda.
Joseph H. Lewis was a B-budget director for many years, some of his films standing out like My Name is Julia Ross and The Big Combo. In the 60s he confined himself to television series.
The film is about people-smuggling in the late 1940s, specifically from Cuba to Miami. The subject was relevant at the time with such films as Borderline. It continued during the ensuing decades, especially from Cuba after Castro’s revolution and then across the border from Mexico into the United States. To that extent, the film is still relevant.
1. A small MGM film? Black and white photography? The cast?
2. The themes, Cuba, the photography of Havana? Florida, the aerial sequences of the Everglades? The airports? An authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The problem of illegal immigrants and people-smuggling? Post- World War Two? The war refugees from Europe? To the United States via Cuba? The people-smugglers?
4. The American authorities, Peter and his role? The murder of the agent in New York City? The police investigation, the contents of his pockets, tracking him down as being on a plane from Miami to New York, the Cuban connection? The going to the FBI and the immigration authorities?
5. The investigators, Peter, Frank, the assistant officers? The plan to track down Palinov?
6. Palinov, his cafe in Havana? Peter and his going to the Cuban authorities, their collaboration? Saying that Palinov could not be caught with evidence? The range of people who went each week waiting to be smuggled into the United States?
7. Peter, his decision to pose as a migrant, going to the embassy, the various people waiting? The Frenchman watching, commenting on who could get a visa or not? His following Peter, giving him the card for Palinov’s restaurant? Taking him there?
8. Palinov, his role in Cuba, the network? His henchmen? The murder in New York City? The plans, the planes, the money? Being introduced to Peter? His suspicions? Marianne and her being at the embassy, in the restaurant? The test about the mayor of Budapest? Peter and his shrewdness?
9. Marianne, her background, at the restaurant, depending on Palinov? Her relationship with Palinov? Interest in Peter, the relationship?
10. Peter and his return to the US, the setup, the information about the plane, monitoring it? Palinov and his group, with Marianne? The flights, the navy plane following? Trying to refuel but taking off again to avoid capture? Over the Everglades, going south, the decision to crash-land?
11. The crash-landing? The information for Peter and Frank? The decision to pursue? The murder, Palinov and his pilot and Marianne in the dinghy? The others heading into the jungle?
12. The pursuit, Peter and his intensity, Frank deciding to go for saving the people? Finding them and bringing them back? Peter and his vehicle, confronting the pilot and Palinov? The pilot’s death? Palinov, the option for Marianne to stay or not? To go back to Cuba or to be under arrest? Peter and his starting the boat, taking the handle and pretending it was the gun? The shooting of Palinov?
13. The Hollywood happy ending – and the romantic aspects to a social problem of the period?
