''Contraband Spain'' is a 1955

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combin ...

written and directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring Richard Greene,

Anouk Aimée Nicole Françoise Florence Dreyfus (born 27 April 1932), known professionally as Anouk Aimée () or Anouk, is a French film actress, who has appeared in 70 films since 1947, having begun her film career at age 14. In her early years, she studi ...

and Michael Denison. Its Spanish title is ''Contrabando''.

Plot

United States Department of the Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States, where it serves as an executive department. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and ...

agent works against smugglers on the border between Spain and France. He has a personal interest as his brother who was part of the gang was murdered by them. The gang smuggles watches into Spain and brings counterfeit American money into England that is used to buy gold that is melted down and shipped to

Continental Europe Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous continent of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by ...

Cast

* Richard Greene as Lee Scott *

as Elena Vargas * Michael Denison as Ricky Metcalfe * José Nieto as Pierre * Robert Ayres as Mr. Dean * Richard Warner as Inspector LeGrand *

John Warwick John McIntosh Beattie (4 January 1905 – 10 January 1972), known professionally as John Warwick, was an Australian actor, and television dramatist. Early life He was born John McIntosh Beattie (many sources give "Beattle") at Bellingen, New S ...

as Bryant *

Philip Saville Philip Saville (28 October 1927 – 22 December 2016) was a British director, screenwriter and former actor whose career lasted half a century. The British Film Institute's Screenonline website described Saville as "one of Britain's most prolif ...

as Martin Scott * Alfonso Estela as Henchman * Conrado San Martín as Henchman * Antonio Almorós as Lucien Remue * G. H. Mulcaster as Colonel Ingleby

Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultim ...

provides uncredited narration in the film.

Locations

The film features locations in

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

, including La Rambla in the opening images. Later, when Richard Greene follows the villains (both travelling in taxis), they get out in Plaza Real with its arcaded pavements. The seaside town of Blanes also appears, and there is much driving to and from the French town of Urdos over the border from

Girona Girona (officially and in Catalan , Spanish: ''Gerona'' ) is a city in northern Catalonia, Spain, at the confluence of the Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell rivers. The city had an official population of 103,369 in 2020. Girona is the capit ...

province.

Critical reception

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporat ...

'' wrote, "a lot of action against beautiful continental backgrounds makes up for weaknesses in plot structure" ; while

Allmovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cul ...

called it a "fast-paced espionager."

References

External links

* 1956 films 1956 crime films Films directed by Lawrence Huntington Films set in Spain British crime films Spanish crime films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films 1950s Spanish films {{1950s-Spain-film-stub