Illegal Entry
Illegal Entry

Illegal Entry

1949Movie84 minEnglish

Long before he became producer/director of The Tonight Show, Fred DeCordova helmed the Universal meller Illegal Entry. Howard Duff, who later worked with DeCordova on the TV series Mr. Adams and Eve, stars as Bert Powers, an undercover agent for the U.S. Department of Immigration. While attempting to bring a vicious gang of alien smugglers to justice, Powers falls in love with Anna Duvak (Marta Toren), a gang member who is Not What She Seems.

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IMDb6.3/10
Director: Frederick De CordovaGenres: Film-Noir, Crime, Drama

Plot Summary

A department store detective, Dan Pritchard, goes undercover as a jewel thief to expose a ring stealing merchandise. He befriends a small-time crook, Joe Manhattan, who believes Pritchard is a genuine criminal. As Pritchard gets deeper into the gang's operations, he finds himself drawn into their dangerous world, complicating his mission and putting his own life at risk.

Critical Reception

Illegal Entry is a moderately received crime drama that utilizes its film-noir elements effectively. While not a standout in the genre, it was praised for its tense atmosphere and solid performances, particularly from its lead actors. Audience reception was generally positive, appreciating its straightforward crime narrative and gritty portrayal of the underworld.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its effective use of noir conventions and suspenseful plot.
  • The performances, especially from the lead cast, were generally seen as strong.
  • Considered a competent, if not groundbreaking, entry into the crime film genre.

Google audience: Information regarding Google user reviews for this older film is not readily available, making it difficult to summarize specific audience likes or dislikes.

Fun Fact

The film was made by Universal-International, a studio known for its horror films but also produced a number of notable crime and noir pictures during this era.

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