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Calcutta

1947, Movie, NR, 83 mins

Calcutta: Review

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Intrigue abounds in the exotic setting of this film in which Ladd and Bendix are cargo plane pilots. When their buddy, Whitney, is found strangled in an alley, Ladd begins to investigate the murder, first questioning the dead man's fiancee, Russell, whom Ladd suspects of being involved in the killing. When Russell provides an alibi, Ladd softens toward her, although his liaison is not romantic; he has a sometimes girl, Duprez, who sings in the Chalgani Club owned by Gilmore. Still suspicious, Ladd takes a scarab diamond his dead friend had given his fiancee from Russell's hotel room and traces it to a jewelry store run by King, an obese, cigar-smoking woman oozing sinister intentions, and, through her, Singh, a gem smuggler. Ladd's inquiries begin to produce lethal results. After he finds a star sapphire and a bag of jewels hidden on board his transport plane, Ladd realizes that jewel smugglers are using his small airline to smuggle gems out of India and that it was for this reason that his friend Whitney has been killed. Singh later confronts Ladd, attempting to kill him with a knife, but the Indian is shot to death before injuring Ladd. British inspector Muir suspects Ladd of being involved in the smuggling ring, but Ladd clears himself, then learns from a hotel clerk that Russell's alibi is fabricated. He confronts her, slapping her until she confesses that she was part of his friend's death and involved with the smugglers. Nightclub owner Gilmore (the head of the smuggling ring) arrives to threaten Ladd. Ladd struggles with Gilmore and shoots the smuggler with his own gun. He then calls Muir, telling the cop to come and get Russell. CALUCTTA takes a hefty chunk of plot from THE MALTESE FALCON and Ladd's rugged role is unabashedly drawn from Sam Spade. He is fair but tough and relentless, with a glacier attitude toward all women he distrusts. After Ladd calls the police, Russell is baffled by him, much the same way Mary Astor reacted to Bogart when he turns her over to police in the 1941 FALCON. Ladd is a strong lead here, even though his dedication to honor is always manifested by a doubled fist. Supporting player Bendix gives a fascinating performance as Ladd's smart-talking sidekick. (They had been hard-nosed buddies in THE BLUE DAHLIA and CHINA.) Broadway stage star Edith King is also a delight as the den mother to the underworld, side-mouthing her words a la Edward G. Robinson. Song: "This is Madness" (Bernie Wayne, Ben Raleigh). leave a comment
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