Macao

Josef Von Sternberg, best known as the director of a series of exotic and visually memorable Marlene Dietrich films for Paramount, here directs Jane Russell and Robert Mitchum in a steamy RKO feature set in Macao. The two stars are well-matched and seem to have on-screen chemistry but apparently there were many altercations and on-set fights between the director and Russell and supporting actress Gloria Grahame. An uncredited Nicholas Ray was called in to retake a fight scene between Mitchum and Brad Dexter as Sternberg’s version was deemed “unsatisfactory”. As is usual with Warner Archive blu-rays, quality is the best it can be. A nice added extra is a Robert Osborne TCM interview with Mitchum and Russell and a commentary with Eddie Muller and screenwriter Stanley Rubin.

You know that when your film comes from the WarnerArchive, you are getting quality! I thoroughly enjoyed the film “MACO.“ There is so many shifts in the plot that sometimes it was hard to follow, but these are great noir pictures! There are some wonderful extras as well. Highly recommended!U