The Bribe, 1949, is playing on Turner Classic Movies on Friday, December 2 at 12:15 a.m. est. The Bribe has a minimal story but great actors including Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Charles Laughton and Vincent Price. The chemistry between Mr. Taylor and Ms. Gardner is sizzling. They became lovers during the production and had to go to his mother’s house to make love because they would have been recognized anywhere else.
“The Bribe” is one of the forties film noir entries, and I love it! Top stars of the era include Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Charles Laughton, and Vincent Price. It is a story of an honest cop, Rigby played with remarkable insight, by Robert Taylor, who falls in love with a suspect (Ava Gardner), and can’t make up his mind on if she is guilty or innocent. John Hodiak is the husband, who is a former fly boy turned crook. Charles Laughton is at his sinister best as the “pie shaped man” who is hired by Vincent Price to pay off Rigby. Laughton dogs Rigby, knowing that he is in love with Gardner, till he caves in and decides to take a bribe to save his love. As in many film noir, only Taylor’s last name is used, we never know Rigby’s first name, interesting. Taylor is very convincing as a man torn between love and honor. He is so conflicted, that you feel sorry for him, wishing that Ava would just run away with him before he turns crook himself. She drugs him and makes sure he can’t stop the crooks, but he recovers, and confronts her, not realizing the trouble she is in herself. In the end, love and honor conquer all. There is a spectacular fireworks ending, that is reminiscent of “Ride the Pink Horse.” All in all the love scenes are sincere, probably because Taylor and Gardner were having an affair at the time of filming, despite the fact that Taylor was very married to Barbara Stanwyck. Quintessential film noir. Review by mamalv for IMDB.
Some behind the scenes photos:
Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner rehearsing a beach scene.
Mr. Taylor and Ms. Gardner
Mr. Taylor and Ms. Gardner with director Robert Z. Leonard.
Left to right: Mr. Taylor with Vincent Price; Charles Laughton; John Hodiak
Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor Actor 
Thanks for forwarding this I look forward to viewing this movie
for the 1st time.
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Hi, Susan. Tell me how you liked it after you see it. Judith
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I like this movie a lot. But have a hard time finding a clear copy.
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It is Dec 2022 and I just saw this film for the first time. It was badly panned by the critics, especially Bosley Crowther who seems to have no love for Robert Taylor. I thought it was outstanding with another very solid performance by Taylor. In fact, the entire cast was A+. Taylor and Gardner have plenty of screen chemistry to boot. I really love this movie.
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I’m with you. Crowther hated Mr. Taylor for some reason. Jealousy, probably. I do like The Bribe. Judith
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