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The Bribe

Play trailer Poster for The Bribe 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

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Bob Thomas Associated Press 02/09/2019
The whole thing bogs down in an aged plot and implausible dialogue. Go to Full Review
Christopher Null Filmcritic.com 04/08/2003
2/5
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 04/08/2003
C
It is only the heavies, Vincent Price and Charles Laughton, who keep the film dripping with venom. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Steve D 01/01/2024 Entertaining but won't stick with you. See more 09/25/2020 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. See more s r @ScottR 07/04/2017 I'm not a fan of Taylor, but Price, Laughton and the beautiful Gardner more than make up for him. See more 07/06/2015 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. See more 11/27/2014 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. See more 01/27/2013 Superior noir with fabulous performances--Laughton Steals the Film!! See more Read all reviews
The Bribe

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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, Robert Z. Leonard
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