Affair in Trinidad

Vincent Sherman’s Affair in Trinidad is best not watched immediately after watching Gilda (1946) because, while the chemistry between stars Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford remains naturally appealing, it doesn’t — and couldn’t possibly — achieve what the former film had. Taken on its own merits, Affair in Trinidad is a well-crafted suspense noir set on the exotic Caribbean island where the traitorous smuggler and war profiteer Max Fabian (Alexander Scourby) is plotting illicit activities which the feds would like to know more about. When the death of Chris Emery’s (Hayworth) husband is linked to Fabian, she’s asked to feign attraction to Fabian so she can get closer and learn what he has planned, a la Ingrid Bergman’s character in Notorious (1946). When her late husband’s brother Steve (Ford) arrives and is kept in the dark about Chris’ mission, sparks fly in more ways than one. Sherman creates plenty of suspenseful moments, particularly in the guesthouse scenes, and, while the Soviet Union is never mentioned by name, the script effectively plays on the contemporary Cold War anxiety of the 1950’s. Hayworth’s mesmerizing song-and-dance performances offer welcome tension relief. Casting highlights include Juanita Moore as Chris’ Trinidadian housekeeper, whose protectiveness of Chris will end up saving the day, and Valerie Bettis, who plays bitter drunkard Veronica Huebling for maximum bitchiness.