Year – 1955

Language – Hindi

Country – India

Producer – Sippy Films

Director – G. P. Sippy

Music Director – N. Dutta

Box-Office Status – Flop

Cast – Ajit, Bina Rai, Vijayalaxmi, Yakub, Johnny Walker, K. N. Singh, Om Prakash, Nilopher, Mohana, Hari Shivdasani, Rajen Kapoor, Uma Devi

Miscellaneous Information – Debut film of Iranian actress Nillofer.

"Marine Drive", modelled after the suspense-packed whodunits which come out of Hollywood in shoals, was premiered at the Swastik and released simultaneously at several other cinema houses in Bombay on September 2, 1955.

Marked by superb production values— lavish sets, rich decor and excellent photography which affords delightful vistas of Bombay’s famous Marine Drive, Juhu beach and the Lonavla Ghats—"Marine Drive" is a polished production.

Though the theme and the moral it points, namely that the lot of the transgressor is hard, are familiar enough to the audience, "Marine Drive" is robbed of much of its power and appeal by the amateurish direc­tion and an insipid screenplay. The roles are poorly written and the characters vaguely defined. In the opening sequences one does not know what is happening, to whom and why. Even when events follow one another in rapid succession and with mounting tempo in the latter half of the story, the film fails to create the suspense, and in certain sequences the audience can tell what is coming a mile off.

The story revolves round a wealthy heiress who is marked for murder by her own wicked uncle. He deals in smuggled goods and commands a gang of hoodlums, but his brother who maintains him is a rich and kindly man. He plans to murder his brother and niece, and get their money which he needs to pay back a man who financed a smuggling misadventure and threatens legal action for the recovery of the sum he advanced. The motivation here, and indeed throughout the picture is not merely vague but thoroughly unrealistic with the result that the drama is thoroughly hocked.

Between the perfunctory characterization and the naive direction, the players, with the exception of Johnny Walker and Uma Devi, look like automatons reciting dialogue instead of acting, even in the most dramatic or romantic situations.

Bina Rai as the wealthy heiress has a passive role in which she gives a subdued performance. She has a few dramatic moments but much of their appeal is lost due to her dead-pan expression and artificial acting.

Ajit, as the gangster who falls in love with his own victim and saves her from the murderous plans and deeds of her uncle, does as well as possible in a poorly written and worse directed part. K. N. Singh, as the villainous uncle of the heiress, gives a polished and accomplished performance in a part cut out for him.

Whatever entertainment there is in the film comes from the comedians, Johnny Walker and Uma Devi. The characters they portray have little bearing on the main theme. Nevertheless they play their roles with a zest and an infectious gaiety which bring the house down every time.

The dances put over by newcomer Niloufer and guest artist Vijayalaxmi are mediocre in choreography and perfunctory in performance. They are no embellishment to the film.

The lyrics are pleasing but the back­ground music in no way augments the dramatic impact of the events.