The story concerns two agents, one Mexican (PJF) and one American, who are tasked to stop the smuggling of Mexican migrant workers across the border to California. The two agents go undercover, one as a poor migrant.
Direction
Mann turns quicksand and trucks into existential dread.
Cinematography
John Alton's shadows swallow men whole.
Acting
Montalban's dignity against Murphy's brittle desperation.
Director
Anthony Mann
Ricardo Montalban
Pablo Rodriguez
George Murphy
Jack Bearnes
Howard Da Silva
Owen Parkson
James Mitchell
Juan Garcia
Arnold Moss
Zopilote
Alfonso Bedoya
Cuchillo
Teresa Celli
Maria
Charles McGraw
Jeff Amboy
José Torvay
Pocoloco
John Ridgely
Mr. Neley
Arthur Hunnicutt
Clayton Nordell
Sig Ruman
Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich
Otto Waldis
Fritz
Nedrick Young
Happy (uncredited)
Robert Cabal
Bracero (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during Operation Wetback (1954), the film's 'two nations' shame proved prophetic as deportations accelerated.
The infamous quicksand scene used a constructed pit; actor James Mitchell was genuinely submerged and nearly drowned when the suction grabbed him.
US
