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The Bribe

Play trailer Poster for The Bribe Released Feb 3, 1949 1h 38m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Federal agent Rigby (Robert Taylor) travels to a Central American island to investigate stolen war surplus. Suspicion falls on veteran Tugwell Hintten (John Hodiak) and his alluring singer wife, Elizabeth (Ava Gardner). But Rigby's situation gets more complicated when he starts an affair with Elizabeth. The brains of the scam -- J.J. Bealer (Charles Laughton) and Carwood (Vincent Price) -- offer the lawman a bribe. When he refuses it, both lovers' lives are jeopardized.

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Bob Thomas Associated Press The whole thing bogs down in an aged plot and implausible dialogue. Feb 9, 2019 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Rated: 2/5 Apr 8, 2003 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It is only the heavies, Vincent Price and Charles Laughton, who keep the film dripping with venom. Rated: C Apr 8, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (13) audience reviews
Steve D Entertaining but won't stick with you. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/01/24 Full Review Audience Member I wonder if Francis Ford Coppola was inspired by the opening scene of The Bribe for his opening Martin Sheen scene in Apocalypse Now. There's the tormented protagonist. The voice-over narration. The hotel room with ceiling fan. Anyway, there's much to like about the film including its super performances by Ava Gardner, Robert Taylor, Charles Laughton and John Hodiak. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review s r I'm not a fan of Taylor, but Price, Laughton and the beautiful Gardner more than make up for him. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Okay film noir that features an Ava Gardner is amazingly gorgeous in a femme fatale role in a story about federal agent Robert Taylor investigating missing planes south of the border. Gardner plays the wife of the chief suspect and Taylor soon finds himself falling for Gardner, but isn't so sure it's genuine or if she's manipulating him. A big complaints is the weirdly written narration for Taylor, who talks as if you were his characters, "You play it all wrong..." or "You were thinking about her..." It was just weird. However, besides the gorgeous Gardner you get Charles Laughton and Vincent Price in deliciously hammy roles. And according to IMDB Vincente Minnelli directed the memorable pyrotechnical climax scene. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A fun film for film noir fans. Taylor plays a fed officer undercover in Central America looking to disrupt a black market military equipment ring. It is told through Taylor's voiceover. It has the classic film noir reflective voiceover along with the exotic location for the time. Taylor is directed to pursue two suspects, Ava Gardner's character and her husband. Taylor and Gardner fall for each other. Charles Laughton and Vince Price play the villains. Laughton steals the show as the most developed character. The film stands out from today's crop because it still carries the conflict of honor and greed. The location and mood make it an enjoyable film even if the plot is lacking. The final sequence in the midst of the island's festival and fireworks was old fashioned fun. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Superior noir with fabulous performances--Laughton Steals the Film!! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Bribe

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Federal agent Rigby (Robert Taylor) travels to a Central American island to investigate stolen war surplus. Suspicion falls on veteran Tugwell Hintten (John Hodiak) and his alluring singer wife, Elizabeth (Ava Gardner). But Rigby's situation gets more complicated when he starts an affair with Elizabeth. The brains of the scam -- J.J. Bealer (Charles Laughton) and Carwood (Vincent Price) -- offer the lawman a bribe. When he refuses it, both lovers' lives are jeopardized.
Director
Robert Z. Leonard
Producer
Pandro S. Berman
Screenwriter
Marguerite Roberts
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 3, 1949, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Oct 6, 2009
Runtime
1h 38m