Agguato a Tangeri

This film is a very well-done tale from director Riccardo Freda. It bears many earmarks of the visual style Freda would later use in his "Coplan" films. Everything is sleekly modern, from the fashionable nightclubs of Tangiers, to the streamlined airport at the film's close. This one also shows signs of the fading neo-realistic wave, and approaches levels of film-noir at times. The story-line is also quite superb, as Purdom explores deeper and deeper the web of criminal activity he was sent to uncover. Here is one of the few films I've seen in which Purdom doesn't over-act. He keeps everything at a cool, equable level, which shows that he may not be such a bad actor as some have suggested. Gino Cervi, as usual, plays his part to perfection, and does everything naturally, while Genevieve Page highlights the film as the main beauty. Although I don't care much for the slow jazz score played throughout the film, it fits the movie nicely, and lends definite atmosphere to the overall effect. Low on the action but high on the drama, Freda keeps us keyed up at all times, as we anxiously await Purdom to escape danger, save the girl, and bust the illegal operation.