Singapore (1947 film)

Singapore is a 1947 American romance film directed by John Brahm and starring Fred MacMurray and Ava Gardner. The film was remade as Istanbul (1957) with the location moved to Turkey.^[1][2]

Plot

Pearl smuggler Matt Gordon (MacMurray) finds romance with Linda Grahame (Gardner) just before the start of World War II. He proposes to her, and she accepts. However, when the Japanese attack Singapore, the church where she is waiting to marry him is bombed; Gordon searches frantically in the wreckage, but cannot find her. He is forced to sail away on his schooner.

With the end of the war, Gordon returns after five years and is met by Deputy Commissioner Hewitt (Richard Haydn), who is convinced he has returned for a hidden cache of pearls. So are Gordon's old criminal associates, Mr. Mauribus (Thomas Gomez) and his underling Sascha Barda (George Lloyd). Mauribus offers to buy the pearls, but Gordon denies he has any.

Then, to his shock, Gordon sees Linda. However, she denies knowing him. She cannot remember anything prior to waking up in a hospital during the war. After spending years together in a prison camp with plantation owner Michael Van Leyden (Roland Culver), and now known as Ann, she married him. Gordon tries to help her remember her past, but to no avail. She does, however, go to see Linda's pre-war servant, Ming Ling (Maylia). Ming Ling recognizes her, but Linda's memories are still blocked.

Giving up, Gordon retrieves the pearls from his old hotel room and hides them in the luggage of the current occupants, American tourists Mr. and Mrs. Bellows (Porter Hall and Spring Byington). Hewitt questions and searches him after seeing him exit the room, but discovers nothing. However, he informs Gordon that Ann Van Leyden is missing.

Gordon goes to Mauribus. He deceives Mauribus and Sascha into believing that Linda double crossed him and has the pearls. They take him, at gunpoint, to her. He pulls out a gun taped to his ankle and dispatches the two crooks. In the excitement, Ann is knocked unconscious. Gordon takes her back to her husband.

The blow restores Ann's memories. She is willing to resume her life with Michael, but he confesses he knew all about her past. With her happiness in mind, he drives her to the airport. When they arrive, not only is Gordon's luggage thoroughly searched, but so are the bags of the Bellows. Giving up, he tells Hewitt where the pearls are. Hewitt lets him board the plane, which takes off just before Linda arrives. Spotting her, Hewitt has the aircraft return, and Ann runs out onto the tarmac to meet it.

Cast

• Fred MacMurray as Matt Gordon
• Ava Gardner as Linda Grahame / Ann Van Leyden
• Roland Culver as Michael Van Leyden
• Richard Haydn as Deputy Commissioner Hewitt
• Spring Byington as Mrs. Bellows
• Thomas Gomez as Mr. Mauribus
• Porter Hall as Mr. Gerald Bellows
• George Lloyd as Sascha Barda
• Maylia as Ming Ling
• Holmes Herbert as Rev. Thomas Barnes
• Edith Evanson as Mrs. Edith Barnes
• Uncredited actors include Filipino Hollywood actor Rudy Robles as the "desk clerk".

Reception

Critical response

Film crtic Bosley Crowther was merciless in his review, "Ava Gardner is sultry and empty-headed as the script demands. Mr. MacMurray doesn't ever appear to have his heart in what he is doing, and Spring Byington and Porter Hall as the tourists from the Midwest conduct themselves in the time-honored fashion that is supposed to denote slightly-addled American transients. Singapore is a pretty poor excuse for an entertainment, even as minor league jewel smuggling fare."^[3]

Film critic Dennis Schwartz was more positive in his review. He wrote, "John Brahm (The Lodger/Hangover Square/The Locket) directs with flair an exotic thriller inspired by Casablanca. It was remade in 1957 as Istanbul with Errol Flynn ... There's a Casablanca-like ending at the airport, with the chief inspector showing he has a heart and that true love between the adventurers can't be denied no matter what. The thriller had fine production values, terrific atmosphere and Ava and MacMurray were in great form."^[4]

References

External links

• Singapore at the American Film Institute Catalog
• Singapore at the Internet Movie Database
• Singapore at AllMovie
• Singapore at the TCM Movie Database
• Singapore film trailer on YouTube