A Lady Without Passport (1950 Joseph H Lewis)

So B movie maker Lewis was invited to work at MGM following Gun Crazy - he thought it a mistake and described the film - originally intended to be a documentary about immigration - as a 'stinker'. I have to disagree and find it full of most interesting material, as agent John Hodiak travels to Cuba (scenes were actually filmed there, which adds to the interest) to trap people-trafficker George Macready, falling for displaced Hedy Lamarr.

Constantly interesting camera angles and moves plus exotic setting had me thinking both of Touch of Evil and Soy Cuba - the fine camerawork is by Paul Vogel (a year after his Oscar for Battleground; he went on to The Time Machine). Then it moves into the air, culminating in an exciting crash / escape filmed entirely from a plane. Then we move into Night of the Hunter territory (notice though how all these films referenced are still in the future) in a studio fog-filled swamp and a fantastic conclusion as a speeding boat pulls into the mist as shots are fired...

Soy Cuba I tell you

You can tell right from the off you're in good hands - dazzling opening shot from inside a car, then film changes locations about seven times in the first three minutes. Music by Laura's David Raksin.

Very good, very interesting.