Counterplot

Definitely a classic of the B-movie genre. Director was the man who discovered a young Joe Yule...who went on to achieve great fame as Mickey Rooney. This film was shot on location in Puerto Rico. Forrest Tucker, already a busy Hollywood actor, had an opportunity to play a romantic lead in this picture, and took it. Also starring as his love interest, Connie, was the beautiful Allison Hayes, who eventually went on to assume the mantle of B-movie cult royalty playing the eponymous role of the "big girl" in "Attack of the 50-Foot Woman". The part of Manuel, friend to the accused man, is played by talented New York newcomer Jackie Wayne, who was just coming off a 2-year run in the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees".

Ey Gods, nothing at all redeeming about this turkey. The acting is beyond stilted. The plot is plot less.

And who the devil cast the lawyer? This guy was obviously trying to imitate Sidney Greenstreet, with none of Greenstreet's charm, intelligence, and naughtiness. I kept thinking he was cast from the hotel staff at which the actors were staying. Probably the bartender in the hotel bar.

I get the feeling that everyone involved simply wanted a bit of vacation time in Puerto Rico.

If you love bad films, this one's for you!

Miller (forrest tucker) is hiding out in puerto rico. He has committed some crime, but we're not sure what. He sends manuel out for food and errands, but when the girlfriend connie (allison hayes) shows up, it's only a matter of time before the coppers close in. Miller is trying to get to south america, but hasn't been able to make a run for it. The story is pretty disjointed. We're never really told what miller is being framed for. But will it all be ironed out before the policia close in? It's okay. Character actor gerald milton almost steals the show here, as bergmann. He does go on and on, almost rambling at one point. Imdb tells us some filming took place november of 1957, but this wasn't released until october 1959. Rather odd. Tucker had worked with john wayne on four films, but was never the big name star. Directed by kurt neumann. He died young at 50. Hayes died at 46. The writer, richard blake, died at 48. A cursed cast!

What a disappointment this film turns out to be. It starts off slowly and the viewer keeps hoping something will happen - it never does! The thin plot is hardly worth the effort, the dialogue is stilted, the acting generally wooden, and the production values poor. The Dutchman must have the worst accent ever committed to film, and the whole thing is a total drag. In fact, the only reason for scoring any points at all for this borathon, is the presence of the beautiful Allison Hayes. Though even she cannot lift this sad effort off the floor, and it simply drifts along to a totally boring & unimaginative conclusion. Put quite simply - give it a very wide berth!!

One reviewer calls this a 'gobbler of the highest order' and another 'an irritating bore'. Yet, oddly, another refers to the film as a 'classic'! So what is this film--a bore, a gobbler, a classic or something else? There are quite a few clues that "Counterplot" is a very low-budgeted film. A major indicator is the filming location of Puerto Rico. It's a nice place (I've been there a couple times) but it's not the sort of location you'd think of for an action-adventure film. Forrest Tucker was a fine enough actor, he was NOT a leading man. Having a supporting player play the lead is some indication of the money behind the picture. And, aside from Tucker, no one in the film is anyone the average viewer would recognize.

As far as the plot goes, Tucker's character is in hiding. He is accused to killing a man, though what actually happened is quite different. A guy cheated him and when Tucker confronts him, the guy tries to take a poke at him and Tucker knocks the snot out of him and leaves. In the meantime, in a TERRIBLY PERFORMED SCENE, someone else kills the guy by softly smashing his head on the floor three times (it was SUPPOSED to be hard but the actor did it with so little conviction and energy it made me laugh). So, it's up to Tucker to prove someone else did it. However, I've got to be honest with you, I really didn't care. The two reviewers who hated this one were correct--the movie was unmercifully dull and put me (literally) to sleep.