An Invitation

Welcome to Lonely Street, a place where no one expects to be found. Along its path you will find low places, exclusive places, and a little farther out of the city, dead-end places. You’ve been to many of them already as a guest, a silent observer following a broken hero, a desperate chanteuse, a dirty, double-crossing partner, a crooked cop, an enemy with a grudge. This is Lonely Street and along its endless stretch are some of film noir’s most notorious and iconic pubs, clubs, and dives. Join me on the Lonely Street Bar Noir Pub Crawl.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

BORDER CAFE (1937)

Yeah, well, I thought it might offer a few more places other than jail and a ranch. Apparently, the only place in Verde, Texas, in 1937 is the Border Cafe. 
 
  
                                                                                    1937
                                                            Beal, Armida, Carey

                                        
                                                                   A cautionary tale
            

A long bar makes an excellent spot to stand and watch the nightly entertainment. The comedic singer Dominga will pay you a table-side visit when she's not tripping over the feet of a New England born and bred city boy. A raised seating area allows extra people to enjoy the floor show of a three-piece trio playing guitar, accordion, and a bongo accompanying Dominga.

                                          
Table side entertainment


And now the story:
The spoiled son of a senator packs up and vacates his father's house for the wanderlust offered in faraway Verde, Texas, a location chosen on a whim when he asks the ticket agent where the man's hometown is. Once there, the senator's son finds love with a Mexican singer who may or may not be involved with a syndicate honcho exploiting ranchers for cattle protection money. 

John Beal plays spoiled, silver-spoon boy Keith Whitney. Armida plays Dominga. Rounding out the cast is veteran cowpoke Harry Carey, Sr., Marjorie Lord, and Paul Fixx probably best known as the sheriff on The Rifleman. 

Written by Lionel Houser from a story by Thomas Gill, the movie is directed by Lew Landers.

2 cervezas out of 5.

Better stops will be planned for the Lonely Street Bar Noir Pub Crawl. Until then, be sure to settle your tab.

No comments:

Post a Comment

DETOUR (1945)

This week the Lonely Street Bar Noir Pub Crawl visits the party spots of the 1945 film, Detour! A favorite of Noir Alley, Detour offers seve...