The story, brimming with wartime espionage and intrigue, is no doubt inspired by CASABLANCA. But instead of Morocco, the main setting is a casino in Portugal, run by a very machiavellian Erich Von Stroheim. Stroheim is fantastic and underplays a role that is not quite subtle in terms of which side of the law he's on.
Leading lady Vera Ralston conveys a simple sometimes naive quality which works well in this particular yarn. She had previously appeared in THE LADY AND THE MONSTER with Von Stroheim. Ralston's best bit in this offering is an exotic number that she performs on stage at the casino with a collection of other pretty dancers. It puts to good use her athleticism and she radiates much more sex appeal here than Ingrid Bergman does in the other film. The musical number is slightly repeated near the end, but interrupted, because that night, Ralston is fleeing the country with a man who's captured her heart, played by Richard Arlen.
The ending is a reversal of CASABLANCA's ending, where instead of Bogart watching Bergman leave on a plane, we have Ralston watching Arlen leave. After all, Arlen is a government agent and he has to fly back to America to provide testimony against Von Stroheim and Von Stroheim's cronies. These final shots are perfectly staged, and I think the ending outdoes CASABLANCA if I'm honest.
One of Von Stroheim's cronies is played by superb character actor Otto Kruger. There's a great scene where Kruger senses he has exceeded his usefulness to the boss, and he pretends that he is in cahoots with someone on the outside that may compromise Von Stroheim's operation of trading government secrets. Kruger goes to the window to adjust a blind, which is meant to signal the outside person. But Von Stroheim figures this is a bluff, there is no such person outside the casino, and Kruger's futile attempt to save his life means curtains for him.
Republic's design team have done a very meticulous job of creating what feels like a grand night spot. There are huge, and I do mean huge, staircases; ornate chandeliers; countless gaming tables; a posh bar; spacious hallways; and decorative rooms for the guests that have elaborate balconies. Von Stoheim's office, complete with back elevator, is adorned with antique set pieces that makes him seem much more refined than any run-of-the-mill gangster.
There is also a running gag involving two elderly women (Sarah Edwards & Alice Fleming) who have come to the casino on their vacation, looking for a little ahem action. In one amusing moment, they think Arlen is hitting on them, and the excitement is almost too much for them to handle. But trust me, they are no competition for Miss Ralston.
Leading lady Vera Ralston conveys a simple sometimes naive quality which works well in this particular yarn. She had previously appeared in THE LADY AND THE MONSTER with Von Stroheim. Ralston's best bit in this offering is an exotic number that she performs on stage at the casino with a collection of other pretty dancers. It puts to good use her athleticism and she radiates much more sex appeal here than Ingrid Bergman does in the other film. The musical number is slightly repeated near the end, but interrupted, because that night, Ralston is fleeing the country with a man who's captured her heart, played by Richard Arlen.
The ending is a reversal of CASABLANCA's ending, where instead of Bogart watching Bergman leave on a plane, we have Ralston watching Arlen leave. After all, Arlen is a government agent and he has to fly back to America to provide testimony against Von Stroheim and Von Stroheim's cronies. These final shots are perfectly staged, and I think the ending outdoes CASABLANCA if I'm honest.
One of Von Stroheim's cronies is played by superb character actor Otto Kruger. There's a great scene where Kruger senses he has exceeded his usefulness to the boss, and he pretends that he is in cahoots with someone on the outside that may compromise Von Stroheim's operation of trading government secrets. Kruger goes to the window to adjust a blind, which is meant to signal the outside person. But Von Stroheim figures this is a bluff, there is no such person outside the casino, and Kruger's futile attempt to save his life means curtains for him.
Republic's design team have done a very meticulous job of creating what feels like a grand night spot. There are huge, and I do mean huge, staircases; ornate chandeliers; countless gaming tables; a posh bar; spacious hallways; and decorative rooms for the guests that have elaborate balconies. Von Stoheim's office, complete with back elevator, is adorned with antique set pieces that makes him seem much more refined than any run-of-the-mill gangster.
There is also a running gag involving two elderly women (Sarah Edwards & Alice Fleming) who have come to the casino on their vacation, looking for a little ahem action. In one amusing moment, they think Arlen is hitting on them, and the excitement is almost too much for them to handle. But trust me, they are no competition for Miss Ralston.