The Border (1982)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Tony Richardson

Writers:

David Freeman (writer)
Walon Green (writer)

Release Date:

30 April 1982 (Finland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

It divided the land. It divided the man.

Plot:

A corrupted border agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Drugs | Border | Kitchen | Police

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	Charlie Smith
Harvey Keitel	...	Cat
Valerie Perrine	...	Marcy
Warren Oates	...	Red
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Maria
Shannon Wilcox	...	Savannah
Manuel Viescas	...	Juan
Jeff Morris	...	J.J.
Mike Gomez	...	Manuel
Dirk Blocker	...	Beef
Lonny Chapman	...	Andy
Stacey Pickren	...	Hooker
Floyd Levine	...	Lou
James Jeter	...	Frank
Alan Fudge	...	Hawker

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (re-rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) | Canada:18+ (Ontario) | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 (1982) | USA:R | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Iceland:12 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Antigua, Guatemala

Company:

Efer Productions

Trivia:

The original finish, which was filmed and edited into previews, had Charlie Smith bomb the border patrol headquarters and get sent to prison. But the ending proved too downbeat for audiences.

Quotes:

Charlie Smith: No more, Marcy. No more's no more. No more does not mean more, and more, and more! No more means no more!

Soundtrack:

No Quiero

An average B list film that was before it's time issue wise(illegal immigration) and it's a watch for any Jack Nicholson fan.

1982's "The Border" is clearly not a film classic and it certainly is not one of Jack's best, yet it's far from one of his worst films also. The theme and issue centers around illegal immigration which in 1982 this topic was being portrayed ahead of it's time, as anyone knows over the last several years the issue is a hot button topic. Again Jack Nicholson makes the film with his direct and straight performance. Nicholson is Charlie Smith a guy who's left the police force to become a border guard and in the meantime along with his gold digging and greedy wife(Valerie Perrine)Smith again reunites with a former friend a now ruthless guard(Harvey Keitel). Soon this is not what it appears to be as brought to life is the drug smuggling along the Rio Grande. Charlie must decide whether or not to cross the line as the whole department is running in a foul manner. Overall the action, suspense, and drama is good and Jack's performance made it a must see, as anything with Nicholson makes people pay attention to their screens.