BORDERTOWN
US, 1935, 90 minutes, Black-and-white.
Paul Muni, Bette Davis, Margaret Lindsay, Eugene Pallette, Robert Barrat, Soldedad Jimenez.
Directed by Archie L. Mayo.
Bordertown is one of the many dramas starring Paul Muni at Warner Brothers during the 1930s. By this time he had appeared in Scarface as well as I Was a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. He was soon to appear in The Story of Louis Pasteur and win an Oscar, as well as biographies of Emile Zola and Juarez. He had a distinctive screen presence, immersing himself in the characteristics of his roles.
He portrays Johnny Ramirez, a young man, with a rough background in the Mexican sector of LA, educating himself as a lawyer but failing in his first case, defending a poor Hispanic man whose truck was hit by a white woman who was drunk. After being reprimanded by the judge, he decides to give up the law, especially against the advice of the priest (Robert Barrat) who had supported him and his mother. He goes to the American Mexican border, a town like Tijuana, with clubs and restaurants, showing his effectiveness as a manager, the owner of the club, Eugene Pallette, relying on him and his wife, Bette Davis, attracted to him.
There are complications in the selling of the club, rebuilding it to be a star attraction for the wealthy, the wife killing her husband, pursuing Johnny, jealous of his attraction towards a white woman, Margaret Lindsay, and accusing him of murder. When he is freed, he is also rebuffed by the woman, on racial and cultural grounds, and has something of a conversion experience, planning to donate his money to establish a Law Institute for his people.
Very interesting in terms of perceptions of racial themes, Hispanics in Los Angeles, the towns on the border, the superiority of the whites over Hispanics.
1. The tough Warner Brothers drama from the mid 1930s? Social issues? Race issues? Hispanic issues?
2. Los Angeles settings, the Mexican part of the city? Homes, church, adult education? The law? The contrast with the Bordertown, Hispanic atmosphere, restaurants and clubs, wealthy mansions? Musical score?
3. The story of Johnny Ramirez? Paul Muni and his screen presence? The opening, five years of studying law, working in the garage, his graduation, his mother’s joy, the priest, the multicultural graduates and the encouraging speech? Johnny’s practice, his mother’s sign, not getting any business, the old man and fixing his truck, the crash into the truck, going to court, his not being well prepared, the reprimands of the judge, Dell and her sketch, the prosecutor and his criticisms, objections, allowing him not to pay the fine? The demands of the judge? His rough background? His temper?
4. Going to the priest, not listening to his advice, the warning about life and getting money? His determination?
5. His going to Bordertown, working as the manager of the club, the explanation of his arrival, his skills, good management? Roark and his reliance on Johnny? Selling the club or not? Marie and her marriage, her fascination with Johnny, her husband going to Los Angeles, his new teeth, her exasperation, his drinking, shutting garage door and his death? Her behaviour, the testimony to the police, being exonerated? Her still pursuing Johnny?
6. Johnny, the determination to build the new club, pressure on the builders? Marie and her providing the money? Her anger at his ignoring her? Telling him that she killed her husband? His reaction?
7. The opening, the guests, Dell and the lawyer, Johnny welcoming them, the attraction to Dell? Dancing with her? Marie arriving, the jealousy? Johnny and his going to Los Angeles, outings with Dell, her family gathering, the racial differences and her saying he was a savage? The break?
8. Marie accusing him of murder, in the court, her breakdown and testimony, his freedom?
9. The return home, his mother, talking with the priest, confession, advice, the bequest to set up of the Institute?
10. The story of redemption?
