Singapore

Casablanca remix. Location is post-war Singapore (or at least Orient-styled sets), MacMurray is more of a scoundrel than Bogie and Gardner's character has amnesia, but otherwise characters, situations and scenes owe a lot to the more famous film. This is naturally not on that level, but it has a nice combination of borrowed/different which makes it an easy watch. 80mins runtime also helps. I've seen this on 'Xmas Noir lists, but it basically has one flashback scene with a Christmas tree.

The story is a little on the light side for what tries to be a adventurous romantic crime thriller, but there is a evergreen feel to Singapore (1947). Fred MacMurray & Ava Gardner surrounded by suspicious characters had its allure, and there was enough care done to the production that they almost managed to create the illusion of a classic.