A Lady Without Passport

A Lady Without Passport

Year: 1950

Runtime: 74 mins

Language: English

Director: Joseph H. Lewis

CrimeThriller

An undercover U.S. immigration officer is assigned to infiltrate a Havana‑based smuggling ring that ships undocumented migrants to the United States. While posing as a facilitator, he falls romantically with a desperate woman trying to enter the country, forcing both to confront how long she can remain hidden and the dangerous repercussions of their forbidden love.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – A Lady Without Passport (1950)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Lady Without Passport (1950). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Post-World War II era

The events take place shortly after World War II, a period marked by recovering economies, displaced refugees, and increased migration. The post-war era saw heightened tensions and efforts to control illegal immigration, which is central to the film’s plot involving smuggling and border security.

Location

Havana, Cuba, Florida Everglades

The movie is primarily set in Havana, Cuba, a vibrant city known for its rich history, colorful architecture, and lively culture. The Florida Everglades, a vast and unique wetland ecosystem, serve as a critical location for the climax, with its dense mangroves and dangerous wildlife adding to the suspense.

🏝️ Caribbean 🌴 Tropical 🐊 Swamp

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:51

Main Characters – A Lady Without Passport (1950)

Meet the key characters of A Lady Without Passport (1950), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Pete Karczag

An American operative in Havana, Pete is determined and resourceful, tasked with dismantling Palinov's smuggling ring. He develops a moral dilemma as he falls in love with Marianne, balancing his duty with his feelings.

👮‍♂️ Agent 💔 Romantic 🔍 Investigative

Marianne Lorress

An Austrian refugee of Buchenwald, Marianne is penniless and desperate to escape Europe. Her resilience amid hardship and her eventual romantic involvement with Pete highlight her strength and vulnerability.

🧳 Refugee 💪 Resilient ❤️ Victim

Palinov

A cunning Levantine café owner and human smuggler, Palinov is ruthless and manipulative. His actions drive the plot, as he seeks to evade capture and control his illegal operations.

💼 Criminal 😈 Ruthless 🥷 Underworld

Frank Westlake

An American official supervising the operation, Westlake prioritizes saving lives over strict enforcement. His decisions influence the outcome, highlighting themes of moral gray areas.

👔 Authority 🤝 Protector 🕊️ Humanitarian

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:51

Major Themes – A Lady Without Passport (1950)

Explore the central themes of A Lady Without Passport (1950), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♂️ Espionage

The film explores undercover operations, intelligence gathering, and deception. Pete Karczag’s covert mission in Havana epitomizes espionage activities during the Cold War era, emphasizing themes of loyalty, danger, and investigation.

❤️ Love and Sacrifice

The story depicts a complicated romantic relationship formed under perilous circumstances. Pete’s emotional conflict and Marianne’s plight highlight themes of love, sacrifice, and moral choices amidst danger and political turmoil.

🚤 Escape and Survival

The narrative culminates in a tense escape across the Florida Everglades, emphasizing themes of survival against all odds. The perilous journey through the wilderness reflects resilience and the desperate quest for freedom.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:51

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Undercover Agent Thrillers like A Lady Without Passport

Where an agent's duty clashes with their growing personal attachments.If you liked the high-stakes tension and forbidden romance of A Lady Without Passport, explore more movies like it. This thread groups crime thrillers and noir stories where undercover agents face moral crises, navigating dangerous worlds where their professional duty is tested by personal connections.

tenseanxiousdouble lifebetrayalmoral dilemmasuspensefulclandestine

Narrative Summary

In these stories, a protagonist operating under a false identity must gain the trust of a dangerous organization or individual. The central conflict arises when their mission is complicated by an unexpected personal connection—often a romance or a bond with a target—leading to a crisis of conscience and a choice between their assignment and their newfound loyalties.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared narrative structure of an undercover mission, a TENSE and HIGH intensity atmosphere, and the specific emotional conflict that arises when professional duty is challenged by personal attachment, creating a consistent vibe of moral ambiguity and high-stakes suspense.

Gritty Post-War Survival Stories like A Lady Without Passport

Characters scarred by conflict fight for a new life in a dangerous world.Fans of the desperate, post-WWII atmosphere in A Lady Without Passport will find more movies like it here. This thread collects films with a heavy emotional weight, where characters haunted by war trauma become entangled in criminal plots as they fight for survival and a hopeful future.

grimdesperateresilientpost-wartraumasurvivalclandestineanxious

Narrative Summary

These narratives follow characters—often refugees, survivors, or disillusioned soldiers—whose past trauma from a recent war defines their present actions. Their desperate quest for safety, identity, or a new beginning leads them into perilous situations, frequently involving exploitation, smuggling, or other crimes, testing their resilience against a bleak backdrop.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific historical context and emotional core: the HEAVY weight of post-war trauma, a grim and desperate mood, and a focus on survival against overwhelming odds. They blend crime thrills with deep character drama rooted in a recent, devastating conflict.

Unlock the Full Story of A Lady Without Passport

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Lady Without Passport in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Lady Without Passport is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Lady Without Passport Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Lady Without Passport, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Lady Without Passport Summary

A Lady Without Passport Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Lady Without Passport with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Lady Without Passport Timeline

A Lady Without Passport Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Lady Without Passport that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

A Lady Without Passport Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Lady Without Passport

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Lady Without Passport: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Lady Without Passport

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Discover movies like A Lady Without Passport that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.