Rope Of Sand (1949)

Set in South Africa, a former hunting guide (Burt Lancaster), who was falsely accused of stealing diamonds from a diamond mining corporation and tortured by a corrupt police captain (Paul Henreid), returns to get revenge ..... and the diamonds. Directed by William Dieterle (HNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME), this neat and nasty cat and mouse thriller is quite enjoyable. Lancaster's hero has more brawn than brains, it was his own stupidity that got him in trouble in the first place! But Claude Rains as the cool and duplicitous owner of the diamond mine is marvelous as he plots, crosses and double crosses and gleefully pits everyone against each other. Henreid is in peak form as the sadistic ex-Nazi and sexy Corinne Calvet (tightly wrapped up in Edith Head's costumes) makes a perfect seductress. Only Peter Lorre in a minor role is wasted. Imperial County in California substitutes for the South African desert and Oscar winning cinematographer Charles Lang gives the B&W film lots of noir-ish shading and texture. All in all, nicely done. The unexceptional score by Franz Waxman. With John Bromfield, Mike Mazurki and Hayden Rorke.