Macao

Released Apr 30, 1952

1h 20m

Crime

Drama

List

44%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

On a boat from Hong Kong, a trio of outsiders -- entertainer Julie Benson (Jane Russell), disgraced American serviceman Nick Cochran (Robert Mitchum) and tourist Lawrence C. Trumble (William Bendix) -- becomes involved with Vincent Halloran (Brad Dexter), a crooked casino boss from the exotic Portuguese colony of Macao. But when Halloran hears that one of the three new arrivals is working undercover for the police, the previously friendly gangster decides to bare his teeth.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Sternberg's personality survives; what's missing is the soul that might have turned the artifice and self-parody into poetry.

Oct 23, 2007

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

What is so enjoyable, apart from Harry Wild's shimmering camerawork, is the tongue-in-cheek tone of the script and performances, best evidenced in the sparkling banter and innuendo between Mitchum and Russell.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

All the other ingredients, including Miss Russell's famed physique, are pretty much the same as have been tumbled into previous cheesecakes with Jane and Bob.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Paul Brenner

Filmcritic.com

a load of atmosphere and malarkey in search of a coherent storyline

Rated: 2/5

Mar 18, 2009

Full Review

TV Guide

An exciting film noir entry, steaming up the screen with sultry, sexy Russell and a somnambulistic Mitchum who manage to clinch often, despite their sneering disregard for each other.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 23, 2007

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a slow-paced, thoroughly dull piece of work...

Rated: 1.5/4

Feb 4, 2007

Full Review

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david f

A really good Film Noir about the exotic east and some Americans who wash up there with many, many ulterior motives.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Jane Russell and Robert Mitchum sizzle in the second of their two films together. Even the Asian-noir story still holds up.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

ashley h

Macao is an incredible film. It is about Nick Cochran who has a chance to restore his name by helping capture an international crime lord. Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell give fantastic performances. The screenplay is well written. Josef von Sternberg did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the adventure and drama. Macao is a must see.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I've always liked this oddball film noir. The film has a great cast with Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, William Bendix, Brad Dexter, and one of my favorite actresses, Gloria Grahame. The film was directed by Josef von Sternberg, with some rewrites and part of the film directed by the great Nicholas Ray, although there are conflicting reports as to how much of the film Ray directed. In any case, the end result is a very fun tale of romance and intrigue involving Mitchum and Bendix in an uneasy alliance to take down crime boss Dexter, while also dealing with a love triangle between Dexter, Russell, and Mitchum. Behind the scenes, director von Sternberg reportedly clashed with everyone on set, doing things like refusing to allow food on the set, to which Mitchum would bring a large picnic basket to set every day to share. Grahame also reportedly did not want to be on this picture and wanted producer Howard Hughes to loan her to Paramount to star in "A Place in the Sun," but Hughes refused to release her. Grahame would have been perfect for the role that eventually went to Shelley Winters, so it's a real tragedy Hughes refused to release her. I'm sure Grahame would have brought a lot more sympathy to the role compared to Winters performance which simply came off as irritating. But back to this film, "Macao" is not as smart as von Sternberg or Ray's best films, but it's a stylishly shot film and quite a bit of fun. And you also get Russell singing "One for My Baby." Even though this film isn't perfect, it is one that for some reason always sticks in my mind and one I like to every so often revisit.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not much of a story, but still well worth seeing thanks to Mitchum and Russell. Gloria Grahame is also wonderful in a too-small role. 'Macao' was initially directed by Josef von Sternberg, and has some of his old exoticism. But he clashed with both the studio and stars, and so Nicholas Ray was brought in at the last minute to re-shoot scenes.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

walter m

On the boat to Macao, Nick Cochran(Robert Mitchum) is just minding his business when he is hit in the head by a shoe, leading to his rescuing Julie Benson(Jane Russell) from a possible sexual assault. In return, she lifts his wallet and passport. But at least she does not have to pay for the nylons that traveling salesman Lawrence Trumble(William Bendix) gives her as a free sample. In any case, casino owner Vincent Halloran(Brad Dexter) fingers Cochran as a cop sent to replace the last New York City cop Halloran had killed. As fairly simple as it is, "Macao" does have one neat trick of misdirection to play which probably worked better when the movie was released. After that, all it can do is rely on a little suspense and its stars' chemistry which is a mixed bag to say the least. While Robert Mitchum is supremely relaxed, Jane Russell has much more sex appeal than actual talent.(Admittedly, she can carry a tune or two.) That leaves it to Gloria Grahame to steal the movie whenever she is kind enough to put in an appearance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Josef von Sternberg

Director

Robert Mitchum

Nick Cochran

Jane Russell

Julie Benson

William Bendix

Lawrence C. Trumble

Thomas Gomez

Lt. Sebastian

Gloria Grahame

Margie

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Synopsis

On a boat from Hong Kong, a trio of outsiders -- entertainer Julie Benson (Jane Russell), disgraced American serviceman Nick Cochran (Robert Mitchum) and tourist Lawrence C. Trumble (William Bendix) -- becomes involved with Vincent Halloran (Brad Dexter), a crooked casino boss from the exotic Portuguese colony of Macao. But when Halloran hears that one of the three new arrivals is working undercover for the police, the previously friendly gangster decides to bare his teeth.

Director: Josef von Sternberg
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 30, 1952, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 20m

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