Rum Runners (French: Boulevard du Rhum) is a 1971 French-Italian-Spanish adventure film directed by Robert Enrico and produced by Alain Poiré. It is based on Jacques Pecheral's novel of the same name. It stars Brigitte Bardot and Lino Ventura and was released in France on 13 October 1971.
Contents
Plot
In 1925, during the Prohibition era in the United States, Cornelius van Zeelinga, a tough but not very bright captain, operates as a rum-runner along the three-mile line from the American coasts known as the "Rum Row." His boat is intercepted and sunk by the U.S. Coast Guard. Surviving the ordeal, Cornelius heads to Mexico, where he gets involved in a dangerous game where people pay to shoot at him. Despite getting injured, he returns to Jamaica and takes charge of a ship named The Lady of my Heart.
Later, Cornelius is tasked with a new rum shipment by trafficker Sanderson. However, he stumbles upon a silent film featuring Linda Larue (Brigitte Bardot) and decides to abandon smuggling. Obsessed with finding the actress, Cornelius travels through Gulf of Mexico ports until he coincidentally encounters her on a deserted beach.
Cast
Brigitte Bardot as Linda Larue
Lino Ventura as Cornelius von Zeelinga
Bill Travers as Sanderson
Clive Revill as Lord Hammond
La Polaca as Catharina
Jess Hahn as Piet aka "Big Dutch"
Antonio Casas as Wilkinson
Andreas Voutsinas as Alvarez
Guy Marchand as Ronald / The Actor
Jack Betts as Renner
Florence Giorgetti as Linda's guest
Production
The film began shooting in Mexico and the British Honduras in September 1970. The film was also partially shot in Parisian studios and in Andalucia, Spain.
Reception
The New York Times regarded the film as a professional breakthrough for Bardot, deeming it as a signifier of "the death of a star—the last star, perhaps—and the birth of an actress: Brigitte Bardot."
Soundtrack
The score and soundtrack were composed by François de Roubaix, with Bardot lending her vocals to certain songs.
Chant des rumrunners / Générique
Sur le boulevard du rhum (by Brigitte Bardot)
Le jeu de l'aveugle
La posada / Gramophone rumba
Chanson de Ronald (by Guy Marchand)
Ragtime du ver solitaire
Bataille navale
Tango del patio
Linda et Cornelius (Version 1)
MacAlister's wedding song I (by Joe Turner)
Ben-moor hôtel
Au cinéma muet
Plaisir d'amour (by Brigitte Bardot and Guy Marchand)
Prohibition rag
Linda et Cornelius (Version 2)