JEWELS OF BRANDENBURG – 1947
This is another of what I call the exotic location noir. The more famous of these would be CALCUTTA, SAIGON, SINGAPORE, THUNDER IN THE EAST, CAPTAIN CAREY USA, TANGIER etc.
This one takes place in Europe just after WW2. A jewel thief makes off with the Crown Jewels of Brandenburg. The clues point to Leonard Strong, a less than savoury club owner. Strong's club is in Lisbon, and is known as a place of back room deals, where various shady items can be bought and sold. The US government sends ex intelligence agent Richard Travis to investigate. Travis and Strong know each other from the war. Strong had sold information to both the Allies and the Nazis during the war. Travis had worked undercover as a piano player in Strong's club in order to keep an eye on Strong's information sources.
Travis knows he needs a cover to explain his reappearance in Lisbon. What better than a jewel smuggler taking jewels to South America. Once in Lisbon, Travis rounds up the members of his war-time spy ring. He needs them for the sting he has planned in-order to retrieve the jewels.
Travis then hits Strong's place and is quickly hired back as the club ivory pounder. Strong is curious what happened to Travis when the war had ended. "I got a new offer in Rio and just left." answers Travis.
Strong is still a bit suspicious of his return and sends his wife, Micheline Cheivel to cozy up to Travis. Cheivel learns nothing, so Strong sends Louis Mercier to burgle Travis's rooms. There he finds a small cache of jewels that he of course pockets. This is all part of Travis and his group's ploy to convince Strong as to Travis's cover.
While all this is going on, Strong has met with the man he hired to steal the Brandenburg Crown jewels. He takes possession of said swag after which he has his bodyguard, Harro Mellor, "pay off" the man with an ounce or two of lead.
Strong now informs Travis that a business arrangement beneficial to both parties should be set up. Now we have the mandatory falling out among the gang members. They all want the jewels for their own. This leads to a general free for all which results in Cheivel, Mercier and Mellor joining the growing list of stiffs. A further round of flying fists and bullets are needed before Strong is finally under lock and key and the jewels returned.
Not a great film by any means. But for a Sol Wurtzel low renter with only a 64 minute run time, it does not overstay its welcome.
The director was Eugene Forde whose work included, MICHAEL SHAYNE, PRIVATE EYE, DRESSED TO KILL, SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT, THE CRIMSON KEY and the rather decent low budget noir, THE INVISIBLE WALL. Forde is best known for a string of CHARLIE CHAN films he helmed in the 1930's.
The d of p was Benjamin Kline. His work in films include , STRANGE ILLUSION, ARSON SQUAD, SHOOT TO KILL, THE CRIMSON KEY, THE INVISIBLE WALL, ROSES ARE RED, HALF PAST MIDNIGHT, THE JUDGE, TOUGH ASSIGNMENT, NO ESCAPE, Miami EXPOSE, ESCAPE FROM SAN QUENTIN, RUMBLE ON THE DOCKS, TREASURE OF MONTE CRISTO and of course, DETOUR .
Richard Travis had roles in OUT OF THE STORM, MOTOR PATROL, FINGERPRINTS DON'T LIE, MASK OF THE DRAGON, DANGER ZONE, ROARING CITY, PIER 23 and CITY OF SHADOWS. Strong was in BACKFIRE and CARGO TO CAPETOWN. Some will recall Micheline Cheirel from SO DARK THE NIGHT and CORNERED.
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