Tampico

Pretty good WWII fare. Naturally, there're Nazi spies and a big dollop of intrigue. Robinson's a tanker captain whose ship is sunk because someone on the inside has betrayed her course. Could it be the delectable Lynn Bari who's attraction to the homely middle-age captain appears suspect. If not her, who then. Unfortunately, Robinson who's cast as a romantic figure appears questionable. However, it was wartime with a shortage of younger leading men. Plus, the role calls for an accomplished actor, which Robinson certainly was. Note how the lighting darkens as the film progresses. In fact, the last 15-minutes or so is almost noir. Anyway, the special effects are outstanding, even if some painted backdrops of Tampico aren't. All in all, it's a decent time-passer if nothing special.

(Catch a perfectly cast middle-age Robinson in two films from the same period—Woman in the Window {1944} and Scarlet Street {1945}.)

I know of only one other movie that was made about the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II. That was "Action in the North Atlantic" by Warner Brothers in 1943. It stars Humphrey Bogart, Raymond Massey and Alan Hale. That film was set in the North Atlantic and had considerable action. "Tampico" isn't on the same level, but it gives a peek at what the Merchant Marine was like around the world during WWII. And, it includes a look at fifth column activities during the war. Nazi operators existed in the U.S. and many other nations. Their primary purpose in the U.S. was to keep it out of the war – on the side of the Allies. It's secondary operations were disruption of industrial production, sabotage and espionage to aid in the sinking of Allied ships.

The plot is fairly simple and somewhat contrived for this film. Edward G. Robinson is very good as Capt. Bart Manson. Victor McLaglen is very good as his first mate. Lynn Bari is good as Kathy Hall. Her part in the film does seem quite contrived. Some reviewers couldn't place her being attracted to Robinson. And a couple questioned Robinson's age as a ship's captain. The script gives a good accounting of Kathy's situation. She had left the U.S. five years earlier and traveled and worked as a dancer in Europe. And, with the rise of the Nazis and invasion of France, she had been trying to return to the U.S. through Lisbon, Portugal. That was a familiar struggle for many civilians, including Americans, trying to get away from the Nazis.

As to Robinson's age, the Merchant Marine had many ship captains in their 40s and 50s. And, during WWII, the service was very happy to have all the experienced captains stay at their helms. Before the start of the war, the Merchant Marine had 55,000 experienced mariners. That number grew to 215,000 during the war – all trained by the Maritime Service.

During the war, about 4,300 Allied ships were sunk. More than 9,300 U.S. mariners lost their lives. In the peak year 1942, the Allies lost 33 ships per week. The U.S. Merchant Marine operated in most of the oceans and seas of the world, and lost ships in all those areas. The Atlantic Ocean had the most ships lost – more than 700. But more than 230 ships were sunk by German U-boats in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

So, "Tampico" gives a look at Merchant Marine operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Early in the film, Captain Manson lectures his men before they go on shore leave about maintaining security so that the enemy can't find out about their shipping plans and cargoes. Very few war films show these warnings to the troops, but it is something that regularly took place among all the services. One of the most familiar posters seen during WWII warned, "Loose lips sink ships." "Tampico" fits that warning to a tee.

This movie doesn't have the action of many other films at sea. And, it spends more time in port. But it gives us a rare look at the silent service during WWII that was so crucial to supplying the Allied forces and to their winning the war.

Oil tanker captain Edward G. Robinson picks up shipwreck survivors during WW2. Among them is pretty Lynn Bari. The middle-aged captain falls for her and the two are married, despite the objections of his friend and first mate, Victor McLaglen. Later, after his ship is sunk by a torpedo, his new bride is suspected of being a German agent. Eddie sets out to uncover the truth and hopefully clear her name.

Perhaps only in the fantasyland of movies can a woman as attractive as Lynn Bari be into a guy that looks like Edward G. Robinson (without him being rich, of course). I was able to keep my inner cynic in check on this part of the story. The rest of it is a little more far-fetched but I won't spoil all of it for you. Let's just say what Robinson does to investigate I've seen in older movies before and it always stretches credulity. Eddie's good and Lynn's not bad, either. Victor McLaglen is wasted in his blah part. It's a watchable WW2 flick. Robinson fans will like it more than most.

This is one of those little gems that makes discovering on a rainy Saturday afternoon a pleasant surprise. It is not a great movie in any sense of the word, but a very enjoyable one. Yeah, like some of the other reviewers, I wondered what in God's Green Earth it was that Kathy saw in Captain Manson (Edward G. Robinson), but short pudgy guys need love too and outside of Hollywood, romances like this very often happen. Also, Victor McLaglen played his role as the ship's First Mate so straight, not in his usual drunk loudmouth Irishman character, that I almost did not recognize him.

The plot was interesting (more fun than riveting), as the story goes from a sea adventure to a spy tale, with a little bit of romance thrown in. The perceived mismatch between the young attractive Kathy and the older Capt Manson only add to the mystery regarding her real motives.

Just a fun little movie to hunker down on the couch under a blanket, pass the time and eat some popcorn.

Capt. Bart Manson is the captain of an oil tanker during World War II, who rescues Katherine Hall when her ship is sunk by a German U-boat. The couple marry, but Manson's ship is subsequently sunk as well. Hall becomes a prime suspect for involvement as she was carrying no identification when rescued.

The captain retreats to Tampico and secretly works with agents to unmask the spies responsible for the loss of his ship. And clear his wife's name - he discovers that an employee on his ship is a German agent.

Tampico takes place during the Second World War, and centers on the captain of an oil tanker played by Edward G. Robinson and his 1st mate played by Victor Mclaglan. It's an entertaining and engaging romance/ war/spy with mr Robinson injecting his character with depth - he dominates as usual, but he's more charming and romantic, and has some witty one liners. Despite his not-so- matinee leading man looks, his romance with Lynn Bari is believable and is the most enjoyable part of the film. Why would she go with a short chubby guy who looks like Al Capone's lost brother? There's a line in the film where she indicates she dated men, heard every line, and sounded weary. Obviously fed up of chiselled-chinned lotharios with brylcreamed hair and would now rather settle for personality, kindness and stability which Robinson's character has.

As for the plot, the first half has a light touch with romance and conversation, then from the time the oil tanker gets torpedoed it gets serious, advancing dramatically with espionage shenanigans. Lynn Bari, who marries Robinson, is accused of being responsible for the tanker to be destroyed. Of course, she didn't do it; no prize regarding who did. But it's very enjoyable getting to the end.