Desperate Cargo
Desperate Cargo

Movie spotlight

Desperate Cargo

1941
Movie
67 min
English

When two showgirls decide to leave South America and head for home, they sweet talk the purser of a clipper ship into giving them berths. In the course of the voyage, a band of thieves attempts to take over the ship and make off with its cash cargo. The heroic purser has other ideas and weighs in to save the day.

Insights

IMDb5.5/10
Director: Robert FloreyGenres: Drama, War

Plot Summary

During World War II, a group of refugees attempts to escape from the Philippines after it falls to Japanese forces. Their perilous journey is fraught with danger as they face not only the enemy but also internal conflicts and the harsh realities of survival at sea.

Critical Reception

Desperate Cargo received mixed to negative reviews upon its release. While some critics acknowledged its attempt at a wartime drama, many found its execution to be uninspired and its plot predictable. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm, with its B-movie status contributing to its limited impact.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film struggled with a disjointed narrative and underdeveloped characters.

  • Its portrayal of wartime events was considered by some to be overly simplistic.

  • Despite the efforts of its cast, the film ultimately failed to resonate.

Google audience: Audience reviews for Desperate Cargo are scarce, but existing commentary suggests a general lack of engagement with the film's plot and execution.

Fun Fact

The film was made during the early days of World War II, attempting to capitalize on the public's interest in war-related dramas, though it was produced on a relatively small budget characteristic of many B-movies of the era.

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