Port of New York (1949)

Before Laslo Benedek made "The Wild One" with Marlon Brando, he made "Port of New York" with Yul Brynner. This concise crime thriller about heroin traffic is taut, one of the many that appeared after the Production Code Administration amended its rules to allow for the use of narcotics in movies. The break out movie that made movies like "Port of New York" possible was the Dick Powell thriller "To the Ends of the Earth." Billed as another excerpt from Government files, "Port of New York" concerns an investigation by Customs agents working with the Bureau of Narcotics. When a box of narcotics is found filled with sand and a purser aboard the ship vanishes without a trace, the agents start snooping around and a pretty young woman, Toni Cardell (K.T. Stevens), offers to help them. Before she can help them, her suave boyfriend Paul strangled her. Later, the agents get another lead involving a nightclub performer, Dolly Carney (Arthur Blake), who is arrested when a messenger shows up with a box of pure heroin. Our heroes follow another lead that ends up with one of the, Waters, getting a bullet in the back and being dumped in the ocean. The Bureau of Narcotics agent is predictably determined to finish the case. Jim Flannery (Richard Rober)impersonates a go-between and meets evil drug lord Yul Brynner. Naturally, complications arise and the sagacious Vicola steers clear of the appointed rendezvous to exchange $200 grand for the heroin. The drug gangsters are appropriately ruthless and kill without a qualm. This was Yul Brynner's film debut and he delivers a terrific performance, savoring each line of dialogue. Look carefully and you will spot future "Laredo" television star Neville Brand as one of Brynner's henchmen.

This fine crime drama shows the work Federal agents in Customs, Narcotics and the Coast Guard did to fight the drug trade in 1949's New York City. This is known as Yul Brynner's first movie, but the real star is Scott Brady.With 59 years having past, I found this movie an unintended heartbreak. Young people might not believe this but in 1949 the narcotics trade was limited to small areas of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles --- not all 50 states, not every town in America. The Federal agents portrayed in this movie might have just cried if they could have seen 14 years into the future when narcotics swept across the USA like a hurricane and infected our lives, our streets, our schools.All this was done with the Federal government opening the door wide. When LBJ appointed crime-friendly Ramsey Clark as Attorney-General and appointed crime-friendly judges to the Supreme Court, this and other corrosive steps were applauded by Newsweek, Time, CBS and others. New York City lost 20% of its population and literally went bankrupt in the late '70's --- primarily because of unchecked crime. The 1966 movie "Death Wish" portrays this era well. This was your parents and grandparents era. It could not have happened without them. When you have time, search for their stash and tell them off.

I thought this short film was good for a 1940ish B- movie film. It's about an opium smuggling in New York in the 1940's. The sinister opium dealer Paul Vicola played by Yul Brynner was excellent. Brynner's character in the film was the only interesting character but there is also Scott Brady 's character as the agent who try to catch Brynner's character. Vicola is so evil but suave, since Brynner had played evil roles throughout his movie career this is even the evilest role he had ever played. Also, Brynner's character Paul kills his girlfriend Toni. My favorite lines in the film : First scene when Toni tries to escape from PaulToni: I went to station to my get my ticketPaul: (looking through Toni's purse) And you lost your ticket on the way home...Toni, where you planning on going?Toni: Near the west coast, then travel whenever place I can get. Paul:(angrily) You are most ungrateful, Toni(pulling down the blinds and moves closer) most ungrateful.Second scene when Paul kills ToniPaul: You are a frightened woman, you're nervous and a lie. Toni: What do you mean, Paul? Paul: You are bad risk, Toni. A very risk! (grabs his handkerchief to smother Toni) (smother Toni until there's no life in her) Paul: Die you, bitch! What really amazed me in this film was Yul Brynner with his natural hair! If you want see Brynner before his shaved dome then this is the movie for you.

Hi, Everyone, Scott Brady has an idea how to steal a scene from Yul Brynner. Scott Brady has better hair, but Yul has the voice and facial expressions that show he was destined for a big Hollywood career.This was 7 years before The King and I would make Yul Brynner a bald box office giant. Much of Yul's pleasant killer personality would be used in future bad guy roles such as Westworld, The Ten Commandments and Magnificent Seven. In this 1949 film, Yul seems to enjoy playing cat and mouse with his intended victims. He being the cat, of course.Scott Brady did an excellent job as the good guy here. Lots of good action scenes with Scott apparently doing his own falls.The plot basically is the bad guys want to bring one million dollars worth of narcotics into the U.S. One million dollars worth of narcotics today would be a misdemeanor.This is a joy to watch just for the history. DeSoto Cabs follow Checker Cabs. Grand Central Station is shown during rush hour. Rush hour was anytime in the 1940s. Men's suits looked smart. Neville Brand is seen here shortly after his World War II service ended. He is the guy who is operating the ship's steering wheel in some scenes.All of New York looks dressed up for a holiday but that is just what people wore in 1949. Good scenes, good plot, good cast.The guy who plays Dolly Carney does an excellent job. His name was Arthur Blake. Interestingly, Yul Brynner, Scott Brady and Arthur Blake all died in 1985.This one is worth watching.Tom Willett