To the Ends of the Earth (1948): Cast & Plot
To the Ends of the Earth is a 1948 thriller directed by Robert Stevenson, starring Dick Powell as Commissioner Michael Barrows, Walter Pietila and Luis Van Rooten. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- Robert Stevenson
- Genre
- Thriller
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Kennedy-Buckman Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is To the Ends of the Earth About?
The premise of To the Ends of the Earth without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
This is necessarily a story of violence, intrigue…and death. A treasury agent becomes obsessed with exposing an international drug ring.
To the Ends of the Earth Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 1930s
- year 1935
- underwater scene
- begins with a dedication
- agent
- dumping garbage overboard
- cairo egypt
- coast guard interdiction
- ss kira maru
- city tour
- shanghai china
- knock down punch
+38 more Show fewer
- camel caravan
- beirut lebanon
- slave labor
- dumping a dead body
- united nations
- falling to death
- hobbled camel
- mug shot
- human trafficking
- sikorsky s 42 flying boat
- hit by a falling object
- rock climbing
- fluoroscope
- thrown overboard
- ss cardillo
- voice recording
- suicide by gunshot
- mass murder
- stabbed in the back
- hotel nationale shanghai
- man wears a fez
- jumping off a cliff
- rose garden
- stained index finger
- death by drowning
- camouflage
- cruise deck plan
- woman smoking
- rickshaw tour
- treasury department
- drug lab
- tailing a suspect
- journey shown on a map
- carton of butter
- voice over narration by lead character
- federal bureau of narcotics
- opium smuggling
- warning shot
To the Ends of the Earth Cast & Characters
Dick Powell leads the cast as Commissioner Michael Barrows, with Walter Pietila as Narcotics Agent (uncredited) and Luis Van Rooten as Commissioner Alberto Berado. Directed by Robert Stevenson; 49 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Robert Stevenson
- Dick Powell as Commissioner Michael Barrows
- Walter Pietila as Narcotics Agent (uncredited)
- Luis Van Rooten as Commissioner Alberto Berado
- Lou Krugman as Commissioner Amar Hassam (uncredited)
Also Starring in To the Ends of the Earth
· 45 more- Harlan Warde Harry Hardt (uncredited)
- Harry J. Anslinger Commissioner H.J. Anslinger
- Victor Sen Yung Chinese Pilot (uncredited)
- Henry Kulky Giant Chinese Man (uncredited)
- James B. Leong Chinese Driver (uncredited)
- Vladimir Sokoloff Commissioner Lum Chi Chow
- Ludwig Donath Nicholas Sokim
- Signe Hasso Ann Grant
- Maylia Fong Shu Pan Wu
- Vernon Steele Commissioner Lionel Hadley (uncredited)
- Marcel Journet Commissioner Lariesier
- Fritz Leiber Binda Sha
- Blue Washington Binda Sha Henchman (uncredited)
- Ivan Triesault Naftalie Vrandstadter (uncredited)
- Bess Flowers Ship Passenger (uncredited)
- Frank Mayo Ship's Captain (uncredited)
Show all 49 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Frank McLure Ship Passenger (uncredited)
- Florence Wix Mrs. Mary Paine (uncredited)
- George J. Lewis Ship's Cook (uncredited)
- Tom Coleman Treasury Agent in Ship's Galley (uncredited)
- Richard Loo Commissioner Lu (uncredited)
- John Hoyt George C. Shannon
- Julian Rivero Cab Driver (uncredited)
- Frank Lackteen Camel Driver (uncredited)
- Nacho Galindo Cab Driver (uncredited)
- Edgar Barrier Grieg
- Eddie Lee Chian Soo (uncredited)
- Mack Williams Coast Guard Captain (uncredited)
- Robert Malcolm Edward Clark (uncredited)
- Beal Wong Transportation Captain (uncredited)
- Leonardo Scavino Hernando (uncredited)
- Peter Chong Joe (uncredited)
- Peter Virgo Mahmoud (uncredited)
- Richard Wang Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- Robert Riordan Ship's Doctor (uncredited)
- Michael Raffetto Professor Salim (uncredited)
- Otto Han Court Clerk (uncredited)
- Sally Corner Midgie (uncredited)
- Fred Godoy Pastry Cook (uncredited)
- Nick Volpe Sketch Artist (uncredited)
- Jackie Barnett Ensign (uncredited)
- George Volk Cassidy (uncredited)
- Mahmud Shaikhaly Egyptian Policeman at Gate (uncredited)
- Horace G. Brown Ship's Officer (uncredited)
- Douglas D. Coppin Ship's Officer (uncredited)
More from Robert Stevenson
More films directed by Robert Stevenson, best-rated first: Mary Poppins, Blackbeard's Ghost, Old Yeller and Darby O'Gill and the Little People.
To the Ends of the Earth Plot Summary
What happens in To the Ends of the Earth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1935, United States Narcotics Agent Michael Barrows, Dick Powell, is assigned to track a freighter suspected of drug smuggling. When he and the Coast Guard spot the vessel off the California coast, the crew captain murders about a hundred chained laborers by throwing them overboard to drown, a brutal sight that leaves Barrows shaken. The ship slips beyond the 12-mile limit into international waters, escaping pursuit. Fueled by horror and a fierce resolve, Barrows vows to take down the narcotics ring—no matter how far he has to go—without waiting for the okay from his boss, Commissioner H. J. Anslinger, Harry J. Anslinger.
Full summary
The whole story of To the Ends of the Earth, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know To the Ends of the Earth?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is the profession of Michael Barrows?
To the Ends of the Earth Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “Oppio” and “Opio”.
- Also known as
-
- Oppio
- Opio
- Traficants d’opi
Seen To the Ends of the Earth?
Movies Like To the Ends of the Earth
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including To the Ends of the Earth, Doomed to Die and The End of Violence.
To the Ends of the Earth FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of To the Ends of the Earth, each answered in a sentence.
How long is To the Ends of the Earth?
To the Ends of the Earth runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was To the Ends of the Earth released?
To the Ends of the Earth was released on February 7, 1948.
Who directed To the Ends of the Earth?
To the Ends of the Earth was directed by Robert Stevenson.
More films by Robert Stevenson Who is in the cast of To the Ends of the Earth?
To the Ends of the Earth stars Dick Powell as Commissioner Michael Barrows, Walter Pietila as Narcotics Agent (uncredited) and Luis Van Rooten as Commissioner Alberto Berado, among 49 credited actors.
Does To the Ends of the Earth have a post-credit scene?
No. To the Ends of the Earth has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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