Though this film has its detractors — because of its mishmash of styles — it remains a fun and funny crime caper with a nice cast and plenty of South-of-the-border flavor. William A. Seiter’s Borderline is a nifty little film that has more in common with The Big Steal than the noir films it is often advertised as, which leads to some of the disappointment experienced by viewers, in my opinion. Its blend of humor, crime and fun grows on you more and more, until its snappy ending.

It seems both the LAPD. and United States Treasury Customs wants to stop a dope smuggling ring bringing narcotics across the border from Mexico. Claire Trevor is the enthusiastic if green LA cop Madeline Haley, a former O.S.S. agent who talks her way into the assignment in an attempt to get information on the nasty middleman Pete Ritche, hoping it will lead them to Mr. Big. TV’s Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, is the heavy in the white suit, Ritche, and he plays the role with relish.

Madeline sort of stumbles into Ritchie but before she can find anything out, Johnny Mackland, an unknown player working from the LA end of the connection, hijacks Ritchie’s gold so he can make a deal for the next shipment. He ends up taking Madeline with him after the guns are drawn and then the fun chase across Mexico is on. As they try to avoid Ritchie and elude the cops it is a lot of fun for the viewer, which includes some tall tells told along the way. A cop who doesn’t know the other one is a cop makes for some fun situations.

This one is sort of a fun pulp film, with more flavor than a habanero pepper, Trevor gives a cute performance as she begins to like Johnny, even getting a bit jealous of the oh-so-friendly young and pretty daughter of a not-too-smart Mexican cop. Of course each regrets having to tun the other one in if they make it out alive, because in true movie fashion, they’ve fallen for each other.

A rousing shoot-out with Ritchie and his gang climaxes a great ending to this very fun to watch film meant as pure entertainment, rather than an artsy example of any one genre. This film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you. ( )