The Bribe

ava gardner is mmmmmmm, and everything after the lights go out is mmmmmmmer still. charles laughton on the other hand is just what the fuck. i'm not sure 'steals the show' is the right phrase here. 'punctuates the show with absurdly accented complaints about his aching feet' is more accurate.

Taylor is likeable but too stiff, Gardner is a little dull but sultry. It's the bad guys with the plum roles: Price and especially Laughton with yet another memorable turn. The main problem here is pacing. One brief action scene breaks up the tedium, other than that it's rather uneventful until the final 25-30 minutes. Things do heat up nicely in the final act, however, culminating in an amazing fireworks-illuminated climax. Laughton and the ending elevate this one enough to make it worthwhile.

More or less by the numbers noir with an off-the-grid phenomenal supporting performance by Laughton.

There was some amazing aspects to The Bribe (1949). Like Vincent Price's nasty character. Likewise Charles Laughton being a dubious individual. And that climax scene! Spectacular! Yet, something was missing to really feel the danger in this one. The two leads Robert Taylor & Ava Gardner did fine, and I won't blame them. Can't put my finger on what exactly was wrong, for there was a ton to love, Just one of those quality movies that lacks that 'it' factor.

**Spoilers** Overlooked crime noir is an enthralling mystery - Taylor may be 'Bogart-lite' in the lead, but the electric supporting cast more than compensates, including the unusual (but surprisingly successful) teaming of Price and Laughton as the bad guys, each one trying to one-up the other in stealing scenes! Moody photography and well-staged action/suspense scenes, especially the fishing scene and stunning climactic fireworks sequence, make this a memorable and extremely entertaining ride.

Charles Laughton yet again steals the show completely!