Menschenschmuggel (1950)

Menschenschmuggel: Directed by Michael Curtiz. With John Garfield, Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter, Juano Hernandez. An otherwise moral captain of a charter boat becomes financially strapped and is drawn into illegal activities in order to keep up payments on his boat.

“This is a remake of TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT that supposedly from what Iu0026#39;ve read sticks closer to the Hemingway story. Garfield could play the strong but tormented guy like nobodyu0026#39;s business, here however we have most of the information needed in understanding just whatu0026#39;s eating at this guy, wearing him down and making him afraid. u0026quot;A man alone hasnu0026#39;t got a chance,u0026quot; he keeps repeating. But Harry isnu0026#39;t alone. Heu0026#39;s got a family that loves him, a plain but good woman he adores, and who adores him. A best friend who is his shipping mate, yet he still canu0026#39;t shake the feeling that somehow the universe is against him, working overtime. Heu0026#39;s like a man that needs some spiritual guidance. Something is missing. On first viewing this plays like a well done yarn. On subsequent viewings however, this film begins to haunt. The characters and scenes play on a deeper, more meaningful level. The domestic scenes, usually the throwaway, boring parts of a story like this, become the rock and Garfield and Phylis Thaxter emit genuine emotion and affection for one another that is unusually realistic. Patricia Neal is the temptress here, and in an unusual move, weu0026#39;re not supposed to fall in love with her or maybe even like her, which is evident in how sheu0026#39;s physically presented. Her haircut is really bad and sheu0026#39;s basically unflatteringly lit and photographed. She too looks realistic: like a once beautiful creature whou0026#39;s been around the block too many times and is starting to look all used up.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJuano Hernandez rounds out the main players as Garfieldu0026#39;s friend and shipmate. It was Garfield who insisted the character be a black man and had the relationship between the two beefed up. According to Garfieldu0026#39;s daughter, the studio didnu0026#39;t like the idea and tried to talk him out of it, eventually giving up. This casting led to someone (director Michael Curtiz?)coming up with that final shot in the film that hits like a sucker punch to the gut, unexpected and unforgettable.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWatch this one a second time and see if you agree.”