Film Snail

To the Ends of the Earth
To the Ends of the Earth

5.6

To the Ends of the Earth

NR·1948·109m

Summary

A treasury agent becomes obsessed with exposing an international drug ring.

Cast

Dick Powell

Dick Powell

Commissioner Michael Barrows

Signe Hasso

Signe Hasso

Ann Grant

Maylia Fong

Maylia Fong

Shu Pan Wu

Ludwig Donath

Ludwig Donath

Nicholas Sokim

Vladimir Sokoloff

Vladimir Sokoloff

Commissioner Lum Chi Chow

Edgar Barrier

Edgar Barrier

Grieg

John Hoyt

John Hoyt

George C. Shannon

Marcel Journet

Marcel Journet

Commissioner Lariesier

Luis van Rooten

Luis van Rooten

Commissioner Alberto Berado

Fritz Leiber

Fritz Leiber

Binda Sha

Harry J. Anslinger

Commissioner H.J. Anslinger

Vernon Steele

Vernon Steele

Commissioner Lionel Hadley (uncredited)

Richard Loo

Richard Loo

Commissioner Lu (uncredited)

Lou Krugman

Lou Krugman

Commissioner Amar Hassam (uncredited)

Florence Wix

Florence Wix

Mrs. Mary Paine (uncredited)

Ivan Triesault

Ivan Triesault

Naftalie Vrandstadter (uncredited)

Harlan Warde

Harlan Warde

Harry Hardt (uncredited)

Michael Raffetto

Professor Salim (uncredited)

Peter Virgo

Peter Virgo

Mahmoud (uncredited)

Robert Malcolm

Edward Clark (uncredited)

Leonardo Scavino

Leonardo Scavino

Hernando (uncredited)

Blue Washington

Blue Washington

Binda Sha Henchman (uncredited)

Henry Kulky

Giant Chinese Man (uncredited)

Victor Sen Yung

Victor Sen Yung

Chinese Pilot (uncredited)

James B. Leong

James B. Leong

Chinese Driver (uncredited)

Frank Lackteen

Frank Lackteen

Camel Driver (uncredited)

Frank Mayo

Frank Mayo

Ship's Captain (uncredited)

George J. Lewis

George J. Lewis

Ship's Cook (uncredited)

Horace G. Brown

Ship's Officer (uncredited)

Douglas D. Coppin

Ship's Officer (uncredited)

Robert Riordan

Ship's Doctor (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

Bess Flowers

Ship Passenger (uncredited)

Frank McLure

Frank McLure

Ship Passenger (uncredited)

Nacho Galindo

Nacho Galindo

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Julian Rivero

Julian Rivero

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Beal Wong

Transportation Captain (uncredited)

Tom Coleman

Treasury Agent in Ship's Galley (uncredited)

Walter Pietila

Narcotics Agent (uncredited)

Mack Williams

Mack Williams

Coast Guard Captain (uncredited)

Sally Corner

Midgie (uncredited)

George Volk

Cassidy (uncredited)

Richard Wang

Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Nick Volpe

Sketch Artist (uncredited)

Mahmud Shaikhaly

Egyptian Policeman at Gate (uncredited)

Fred Godoy

Pastry Cook (uncredited)

Jackie Barnett

Ensign (uncredited)

Peter Chong

Joe (uncredited)

Otto Han

Court Clerk (uncredited)

Eddie Lee

Chian Soo (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Robert Stevenson

Screenplay

Jay Richard Kennedy

Writer

Sidney Buchman

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

July 20, 2019

Utterly polished piece of adult crime drama film making.

To The Ends of the Earth is directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Jay Richard Kennedy. It stars Dick Powell, Signe Hasso, Maylia, Ludwig Donath and Vladimir Sokoloff. Music is by George Duning and cinematography by Burnett Guffey.

Dick Powell stars as Treasury Agent Commissioner Michael Barrows, who after witnessing a terrible incident at sea goes on the trail of a major narcotics ring. Part docu-noir, part straight out crime drama, Stevenson's film is a pic that demands your full attention. Such are the intricacies of a plot involving a global narcotics operation, and the number of characters involved as Barrows literally country hops, it may even be a picture that improves because of a "needed" second viewing. Not to say that is a requisite, the structure and pace of the piece simply may not be your thing, but I'd like to put it on record that it seems an improver and definitely one to watch and listen to carefully. helps, also, that there is much narration to aid the complexity of the case.

It begins in shocking fashion, with an event that has the ability to take you aback, and with your attention grabbed we are then on a jaunt with Barrows, getting up close and personal with either shifty persons or loyal international people willing to help the intrepid agent. He has dry wit and a cunning knowing, a guy we basically like to be around, with Powell (not for the first time in such a role) splendidly in character. There was a large budget afforded the production, so the near documentary approach doesn't look cheap (helps having Guffey on photography duties), while the MPA eased their "drugs in film" regulations to let the pic breath an air of much needed realism.

With the evils of narcotic smuggling given intelligent filmic substance - we learn much about the manufacture of opium and how it is hidden and retrieved etc - and some very drastic scenes involving murder and suicides, this is mature film making. Not all the cast leave lasting impressions (apart from Powell they were largely unknown at the time), and some of the speech sections are a little clunky, but this is an utterly polished piece of adult crime drama film making. 7.5/10

Media

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Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

film noir