The Bribe (1949)

Set against the intoxicating backdrop of Carlotta, a small fishing town nestled off the west coast of Central America, The Bribe (1949) weaves a thrilling tale of deceit, love, and intrigue. Rigby, an FBI agent adept at masquerading as an unsuspecting tourist, finds himself entangled in a perilous mission. His task? To unmask the devious brains behind an illicit operation trafficking American fighter jet engines into South America, exploiting a war surplus program. Rigby's investigation draws him into the lives of Tugwell and Elizabeth Hintten, an American couple residing in Carlotta. On the surface, they appear downtrodden - Tug stewing in his own disillusionment after losing his job with an airline, and Elizabeth, a hardworking cleaner by day, transforms into a sultry torch singer by night at the local club, Pedro's. As Rigby delves deeper, two additional enigmatic figures surface: Carwood, a business tycoon with murky dealings in Peru, and J.J. Bealer, a man notable for his peculiar gait and "pie-shaped" figure. Rigby's instincts tell him that these men and Tug are interwoven into the illegal operation, leaving Elizabeth, the innocent, unwittingly caught in the crossfire. Yet, as Rigby finds himself increasingly drawn towards Elizabeth, a dangerous wave of emotion threatens to cloud his judgement. The stakes rise when Bealer attempts to sway Rigby with a tempting offer to abandon his mission. The plot thickens as the gang realizes that there is more than one way to bribe a man. The heat of Carlotta is not the only thing causing everyone to sweat in this captivating tale of love, deceit, and the pursuit of justice.

The Bribe is a crime movie featuring Robert Taylor and directed by Robert Z. Leonard.

The Bribe is currently streaming on TCM.