Smuggled Cargo

When a sudden cold snap hits the Imperial Valley in California, orange growers fear that frost will kill their crops. Orange Growers Association president John Clayton assures his fellow farmers that he will help them obtain the oil needed to keep warming fires burning.

Directed by John H. Auer, Michael Jacoby, Smuggled Cargo leans on a strong ensemble — Barry MacKay, Rochelle Hudson, George Barbier — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1939.