Bordertown (1935)

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

Carroll Graham (suggested by book "Border Town")
Robert Lord (story)

Release Date:

23 January 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Plot:

Johnny Ramirez rises from bouncer to partner in Charlie Roark's border town casino. Charlie's wife Marie loves Johnny...

Plot Keywords:

Suffocation | Automobile Accident | Carbon Monoxide Poisoning | Casino | Catholic Church

Cast

Paul Muni	...	Johnny Ramirez
Bette Davis	...	Mrs. Marie Roark
Margaret Lindsay	...	Dale Elwell
Eugene Pallette	...	Charles 'Charlie' Roark
Robert Barrat	...	Padre
Soledad Jiménez	...	Mrs. Ramirez
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Harry, the drunk
Gavin Gordon	...	Brook Manville
William B. Davidson	...	Dr. 'Doc' Carter, D.D.S. (as William Davidson)
Arthur Stone	...	Manuel Diego
Vivian Tobin	...	Mrs. Garner, Dale's friend

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #299)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Nella Walker is on record for the part of Mrs. Elwell, but she did not appear in the film. 'Henry ONeill is on record for the part of Mr. Elwell, but he played the role of Attorney J.L. Chase. A modern source lists Eddie Shubert as Marketman, but he was not seen in the print.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Dale and Brook leave the Olvera Street cafe, the camera follows them down the street. Several objects and people pass between them and the camera, and the shadow of the camera falls across several of these. At one point, the shadow of a technician wearing a cap (presumably the camera operator) is plainly visible against a flat surface.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

America, My Country Tis of Thee

Before Bette Davis was big

A film where everyone gets whats coming to them, and true to the 1930's formula, in melodramatic fashion. Featuring the now forgotten Paul Muni (was he really a superstar back then?) as a Hispanic lawyer who learns a hard lesson about the facts of life. Muni, as usual plays it weird; before and after Bordertown, he is a pretty normal guy but while he is in Bordertown he becomes a Hispanic parody. But nevermind that, this film has Bette Davis playing yet another scheming psychopath as only she can. Like the several other Davis movies that she had a minor role in ("Fog over Frisco" and "In This Our Life", to name two), her twisted character stays with you long after she is gone. Plus, she's a blonde! Yowza!