Representatives from some unnamed country, presumably the Soviet Union, hire a deported thug (Raft) to kidnap a physicist and they sneak the thug, Joe Victor, into Montreal, Canada which is where the physicist lives. He immediately recruits members of his old gang including former moll (Audrey Totter). Early in the movie a RCMP officer patrolling near where the physicist, Dr. Macklin, lives is murdered. Edward G. Robinson plays the Montreal police lieutenant investigating the murder. The Totter character wants nothing to do with Victor and his plans but is blackmailed into helping. Her actually falling for Dr. Macklin was not sappy but believable. Robinson never gives a bad performance and he didn't in this one but he could have had a little more spark in his performance. No matter what role he is in, Raft is just not likable - he always comes across sort of smarmy. I would have given this a 7 except for the ending. I flat out don't believe that a deported thug and killer would have been swayed by a cop's two minute appeal to his patriotism and love of freedom. I do believe he would kill someone who double crossed him then plan to jump overboard and swim to safety even though his chances for success were remote.
Review of A Bullet for Joey
