Wetbacks (1956)

In desperate need of cash, a seaman (Lloyd Bridges) charters his boat to an obnoxious boozed up businessman (Barton MacLane) and his mistress (Nancy Gates, SOME CAME RUNNING). But when the drunk abandons both the seaman without paying him his fee and his mistress, the seaman reluctantly agrees to run illegal Mexican immigrants to California on his boat. The unceremoniously titled WETBACKS is a low budget quickie that looks to have been filmed on the fly. But for what it is, it's an efficient little "B" tackling a still controversial subject. The sole directorial credit of Hank McCune, who also produced the movie, it's the kind of movie that in a month's time will be a blur in your cinematic memory. Luckily, Bridges and the attractive Gates are strong enough actors to make the most of their roles. The underscore is by Les Baxter (MASTER OF THE WORLD). With John Hoyt and Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales.