Borderline

Borderline has the interesting premise that two government agencies have operators working the same case and neither knows anything about the other. If they did there would be no film called Borderline.

According to a recent biography of Fred MacMurray the film was produced by Claire Trevor's husband Milton Bren and MacMurray was given a piece of the film in lieu of a salary. It doesn't look like to much was spent on production values so it probably made a profit for its investors who were also its investors.

Trevor is with the LAPD and she's sent in looking for dope smuggler Raymond Burr while MacMurray is with the Feds and he's worked his way into the gang of rival smuggler Roy Roberts. Circumstance throws these two together as MacMurray takes Trevor for what she is, a wisecracking moll whom he starts to fall for. Nevertheless his duty is clear.

Borderline is not quite an easy fit between film noir and comedy which both stars have done their share of. Nevertheless MacMurray and Trevor work well together. Borderline is the kind of film Fred might have done with Carole Lombard had she lived.

Fans of this most underrated actor will like this film, Fred carried worse in his career.