The Border

1982
X
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

7.3K

YOUR RATING

A corrupt border Agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.

Play trailer1:49

1 Video

48 Photos

Tragedy Crime Drama

A corrupt border Agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.A corrupt border Agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.A corrupt border Agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

7.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 1:49

Official Trailer

Photos48

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The original finish, which was filmed and edited into previews, had Charlie Smith (Jack Nicholson) bomb the Border Patrol Headquarters and get sent to prison. But the ending proved to be too downbeat for audiences.

Goofs
When Charlie arrests the two factory workers, he incorrectly identifies himself as being from "the Bureau of Naturalization and Immigration" instead of the correct name of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Quotes
Charlie Smith: I can't afford a fucking dream house!

Connections
Featured in Sneak Previews: Personal Best/The Border/Venom/Zoot Suit (1982)

Soundtracks
Across the Borderline
Written by Jim Dickinson, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder
Performed by Freddy Fender (as Freddie Fender)

User reviews53

Featured review

7/10

I can't afford a f*cking dream house!

There are two things about this movie that make it a must-watch: Jack Nicholson in one of his best performances, and the issue of immigration.

Nicholson is a border guard who tries to resist the money available but his crazy wife (Valerie Perrine) just spends, spends, and spends like he was a Rockefeller. He finally joins with his neighbor and partner (Harvey Keitel) and runs some Mexicans across the border.

Charlie (Nicholson) still has some morals and that causes problems for his partner. He is also taken with Maria (Elpidia Carrillo), and that causes problems for their Mexican contact, so he sets him up to control him.

However, he can't control Charlie, and now even the boss (Warren Oates) is mad at him.

Tony Richardson's film has a lot of elements of Sam Peckinpah. Exciting to the end.

Music by the great Ry Cooder.