The Scavengers, 1959
I’m a sucker for a good film noir. Or one filmed in an exciting location.
I stumbled across The Scavengers on Netflix a couple years ago and while the acting and cinematography are lackluster at best, I pushed that aside and immersed myself into late 1950s Hong Kong.
Vince Edwards is an American smuggler living in Asia. One day while making a deal near the Macao ferry pier in Hong Kong, he spots his wife (Carol Ohmart)–who had disappeared six years earlier. Edwards follows her to Macao, where he learns why she left him and what trouble she’s gotten into since then.
The kidnapping, murder, spies, and gambling should have catapulted this film into the next Casablanca or Maltese Falcon, but alas the acting and sloppy editing get in the way. Still, if you like a good B movie and are into noir, I highly recommend The Scavengers.
At the end of the film, Edwards and his girlfriend (Tamar Benamy) seek out the police on Carnarvon Road in Kowloon. When I first moved to Hong Kong in 1990, my grandparents raved about the Kingfisher restaurant on Carnarvon Raod, their favorite place to eat in Hong Kong. I spent a few weekends browsing the crowded J-shaped street, trying to find it, but to no avail. It probably closed years earlier.
PS I came to this film by googling Tamar Benamy. I sent for a DVD. This el cheapo movie sucks in terms of production values, acting, cinematography, plot, dialogue, lighting, direction, etc. Otherwise it’s a winner and Fine as a travelogue or nostalgia for ’50s Hong Kong and MacCow. Tamar Benamy’s voice was obviously overdubbed, since she spoke with a charming Brooklyn accent.
Yes, it was never Oscar material. But to me it was a winner for everything you wrote. Plus, I kind of liked the story. Her voice seemed very fake, so thanks for that information about her real accent. My brother lives in Brooklyn, so I’m quite partial to accents from there. Thanks again for these great comments! I find it all so fascinating.
In case anyone cares, Tamar Benamy was my girlfriend for a brief moment in ’53. A sweeter, funnier, more intelligent, prettier, more loving girl I’ve never known. I dropped her because I thought she was under age (17), in which I was mistaken, while I was 22. (17 is the age of consent in NY state.) She became an attorney and died of cancer a few years ago in New York, NY at age 64.I still grieve for “Tami.”
Thanks, Jerry! In case anyone cares… Yes, this is fascinating!! I was so intrigued by her in this film and sent a copy to a friend whose modern dance company traveled to Macau a few years back just so my friend could see Tamar’s dancing. Thanks for sharing your lovely memories of her.
It really is! I’ve seen it about five times!
Brrrrr…sounds like a must-watch!