The Great Manhunt (1950) User Reviews

The Case of the Curious Shared Plot line Movies

[theowinthrop · 8/10 · 25 April 2005]

1950 was a great year for films, but for some reason two fine ones came out that had the same plot line (with variations) set in two different parts of the world. These were CRISIS and STATE SECRET. CRISIS was set in Latin America, in a country run by a dictator and his cronies, similar to the Perons in Argentina. The dictator (Jose Ferrer) has a brain tumor, and when an American brain surgeon (Cary Grant) and his wife come to the country on a vacation, the dictator puts pressure on the brain surgeon to perform secret surgery on him. Grant also has pressure on him by the local revolutionaries (led by Gilbert Roland) to botch the operation.

STATE SECRET was a British film starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Hawkins, Glynnis Johns, and Herbert Lom. Vacationing in a Balkan state that is not totally Communist (read Yugoslavia), Fairbanks is pressured by the head of the Secret Service (Hawkins) into operating on the Genreralisimo (a type of elderly version of Tito) who is gravely ill. When, after an initial period where the patient is responding well to the operation, the dictator dies, Fairbanks realizes that his life is in danger (Hawkins can't have the death of the dictator revealed so early - there has to be a replacement ready in the wings). Fairbanks' adventures in fleeing (aided by Johns and Lom) are the basis of the plot.

I find the sociological background to Latin American politics in CRISIS better than the Balkan background to STATE SECRET, but there are nice touches. Hawkins is a dangerous foe, but he is a man with an astute political brain. Lom (playing his normal villainous type: a blackmailing scoundrel) turns in a superb comic performance when he unwittingly stumbles on a secret he'd prefer never knowing at all. Fairbanks Jr. was always underrated as an actor, because too many critics saw him as trying to carry on the tradition of swashbuckling films his father made famous in the silent period. But he was better than that, and shows real, growing concern for Johns and her safety as the film continues.

If possible try to see this and CRISIS together, to see which one is better. I bet you will find that an impossible choice. Enjoy them both.

Move over Hitch this is overtaking you!

[krocheav · 8/10 · 2 December 2013]

When you see films of the caliber of 'State Secret' it makes you ask how the industry can 'loose' them for so long between the rare screenings! The credits for this near forgotten classic are masterful. Produced and Directed by the talented team of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat (Hitchcock collaborators from way back) this has style that puts some of Hitch's films to shame. Gilliat also adapted the screenplay from prolific writer: Roy Huggins novel. The film moves along at a cracking pace, with a chase across many varied landscapes...night journeys on river barges, over deadly Mountain ranges, through city streets, etc.

The Director of Photography is none other than Award winner Robert Krasker ('The Third Man' - 'El Cid', etc) and assisting him is future feature Director: Guy Green ('James Bond' - 'Remo', etc) The look these professionals create together is first class. If you enjoy fast moving suspense dramas, tinged with wry touches of humour this could be waiting for you to discover (or re-visit)

Cast wise: Douglas Fairbanks Jr is surprisingly good in a mature roll of famous Surgon, framed by foreign agents to perform operation on 'mystery man' with dynamite results! In an early role, the astonishingly 'cute' Glynis Johns is marvelous. Herbert Lom is used to excellent effect as an international con man drawn into a dangerous liaison with the escaping duo. Jack Hawkins, as usual, is totally convincing as the menacing political manipulator. This film journey is filled with creative touches throughout. Find it on DVD (if you can) otherwise scour the TV Guide and don't miss it.

Gem Digital TV in Australia somehow dug it out of the vaults (they probably inherited it in a package deal without being aware what they had - this often happens) then screened it as one of their Sunday afternoon movies. As usual, they presented it in their throw-away, semi-unprofessional manor, with the way too LARGE, lolly 'PINK' station Logo running over the stylish B/W photography. Then proceeded to pepper it with gaudy colour 'pop up' adds, for shows that the audience for this style of movie won't watch in a pink fit! Don't they know...has no one taught them?

While at least they had a superbly re-mastered print with clear image and good contrast, they then ran the sound track through an 'auto level controller' (A.L.C.) so that during the films quieter moments the ALC unit goes off looking for sound that's not even there, leaving the viewer to suffer 'Hiss and Background noise' till someone speaks again. Pitiful. Oh well, at least they did screen it! Bless their little hearts!

Make it a 7.5!

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 11 September 2018]

I round up because I'm generous that way.

This is a 1950 British made thriller starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as an American doctor invited to a Balkan-type dictatorship, where he learns a terrible state secret and is soon on the run for his life with state police on his heels.

This highly successful suspense thriller, with some humor spliced into the proceedings, was written and directed by Sidney Gilliat, the same man responsible for the screenplay of one of Hitchcock's most famous British triumphs, The Lady Vanishes. In fact, there is so much about this innocent man on the run adventure that reminds me of Hitchcock thrillers. But this film stands on its own as one of the best Hitchcock-like thrillers not directed by the master of suspense.

Fairbanks, in his second last film prior to retirement, delivers one of his most understated, likable performances, but this time as an everyman with whom members of the audience can identify. Husky voiced Glynis Johns is most appealing as a stage performer who reluctantly joins Fairbanks in his flight from the police, while Jack Hawkins oozes charm as well as a pragmatic cold bloodedness as the head of the state police.

A particular highlight performer in the film is Herbert Lom, a delight as a sleazy underworld figure, capable of informing upon his own mother, but blackmailed into assisting Fairbanks. Lom brings a dark humour to the film and steals every scene that he is in.

A most satisfactory suspense thriller, and highly recommended, State Secret was once a television staple. Today, however, it has become a challenge to find a print of the film.

An exciting suspense thriller

[pd-1 · 8 September 1999]

Fairbanks, in his most natural style makes you believe he is a gifted surgeon. He is "kidnapped" by a country to perform a delicate operation on its leader. Things go wrong and, of course, Fairbanks is in danger of being killed to silence his knowledge. I viewed this film a a local theatre in Los Angeles as "State Secret" and later I could see that other writers "borrowed" many of the twists and turns for later productions. Herbert Lom has a nice part and clearly establishes his talent for future films. Jack Hawkins is at his menacing best. Although there are some cute things to laugh at, this film is not a comedy as stated on the cover page, but an exciting chase that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The Operation Was Successful, the Patient Died, the Surgeon Had to Run

[boblipton · 7/10 · 3 March 2018]

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. has invented a new surgical procedure. He's invited to a European dictatorship to demonstrate it. He discovers in mid-operation his patient is the country's dictator. When the dictator dies, the authorities, in the person of Jack Hawkins, can't let anyone know, so Fairbanks ... escapes and so begins the movie.

It's Sidney Gilliat doing a Hitchcock thriller on his own, and doing it very well, thank you, with a fine cast, with heroine Glynis Johns showing up a third of the way into the movie in a cheap music hall singing "Paper Doll" very badly and Herbert Lom hilariously sleazy as a black-market fixer. There's an exciting mountain-climbing sequence shot in the Dolomites and the entire movie is shot through with a sardonic cynicism that is capped with Miss Johns' closing words to the show.

Involving thriller

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 10 August 2014]

An involving, tight little thriller that should be better known, and is in need of some print remastering (though I consider myself lucky to at least have a copy). Although the decision to open the film with a sort of flash-forward is, in this case, a questionable one, since the viewer from that point on knows that the hero will eventually get caught, writer-director Sidney Gilliat manages to milk a lot of suspense out of the situations and the incidents that occur while Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is desperately trying to escape. The fictional language created especially for this film is a masterstroke, familiar-sounding enough to be believable but also alien-sounding enough to be impossible for a foreigner like Fairbanks to understand more than a word or two. All the actors give fine performances, and there is some very well done first-person point-of-view camera-work. The ending may strike you as a little too "deus ex machina"-ish. *** out of 4.

Almost insurmountable barrier

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 24 December 2020]

State Secret casts Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, as an American doctor practicing in London who goes on a goodwill tour behind the Iron Curtain to demonstrate a ew surgical technique.

Fairbanks is wined and dined and feted and then performs the operation and bad for him that he recognizes his patient is the country's dictator.

The secret police in the person of Jack Hawkins try to hold him, but Fairbanks escapes in possession of one of the biggest State Secrets out there. The rest of the film is Fairbanks and his efforts to flee the country.

Fairbanks gives a wonderful portrayal of a trapped man. Not knowing the language is a frightful and almost insurmountable barrier. A meting with Glynis John who is an entertainer who speaks English because her mother was from the United Kingdom is a godsend. Their scenes together as Fairbanks tries to persuade Glynis to help are special.

The atmosphere shown of the omnipresent state is the best thing about State Secret. Another special performance is that of Herbert Lom as a fixer who will help if it suits him for a price.

State Secret is one excellent Cold War drama/

Brilliant but sadly underrated political thriller.

[Oblomov-2 · 9/10 · 8 October 2006]

"State Secret" is one of the best political thrillers that I have ever seen. The storyline, script, acting, photography and direction are all top notch. Considering that the film is over 50 years old, it does not seem dated at all; in fact, the plot could easily be applicable to this day. Douglas Fairbanks manages to convince in his role as the visiting American surgeon, but it is the supporting cast - Glynis Johns, Jack Hawkins and particularly Herbert Lom that runs the show. Lom has one of the best one-liners in Hollywood history when he disdainfully tells Fairbanks "Oh please, don't say that it is the principle of the thing....that usually turns out to be so much more expensive!" Sidney Gillat's direction keeps the pace brisk & eventful. A must buy on DVD, certainly for me.

The People Have Spoken!

[spookyrat1 · 6/10 · 3 May 2019]

State Secret is a curious oddity of a film. Filmed largely in one one of my favourite parts of Italy (the north-east) substituting for the fictitious country of Vosnia, much of the film's dialogue consists of actors speaking Vosnian, a made-up studio language, without the benefit of sub-titles. It works, but it's kind of weird listening to Jack Hawkins among others, babbling away in this synthetic foreign tongue.

State Secret is very much a chase film, loosely clothed in the raiments of a political thriller. The set-up, as far as this writer is concerned is very contrived, but it is intriguing to see how writer/director Sidney Gilliat, a long time associate of Alfred Hitchcock, intends to play the narrative out. I mean, we know this is set 70 years ago, but even back then you'd think there'd be interest from the American media, when a nationally recognised surgeon is invited to a foreign country, supposedly to be given an humanitarian award. Apparently not, though ironically we see heaps of foreign media in the country covering the election of the authoritarian General Nivo. Were we ever too, given an explanation as to why Douglas Fairbanks Jr's character, Doctor John Marlowe, was unable to speak to anyone from the American embassy? I can't remember one.

At any rate Marlowe ends up the subject of an unlikely nationwide manhunt with showgirl Lisa Robinson (Glynis Johns). This gives us the opportunity to see some fine, at times spectacular location cinematography around Trento and The Dolomites, courtesy of the talents of Australian cameraman Robert Krasker. The mountain-climbing footage is especially worthy of note. Gilliat, very much wants us to see the film through protagonist Marlowe's (confused) eyes. Thus, the lack of sub-titles! But there's an interesting 6 or 7 minutes in the first act where the camera acts as Marlowe's vision. We don't see him, only what he sees and hears. I'd suggest many video game creators may have taken note of this particular section of the film, incorporating some of its ideas into their games.

I can't end this piece without reference to the film's shaggy dog ending. Seriously, it's a ... "You're kidding aren't you"? type conclusion and does emphasise the flaws in writing, that serve to highlight State Secret isn't the unseen, long forgotten classic, that many of these other reviewers on these pages mistakenly suggest. But it undeniably is a lively little affair, incorporating some worthwhile, engaging, cinematic propositions.

Exciting, well written & acted film.

[jennyp-2 · 10/10 · 4 June 2001]

I viewed this film at Cinevent in Columbus, Ohio on Memorial Day weekend, 2001. It is one of Fairbanks's best performances. He is believable as an American physician brought to a eastern European nation under false pretenses. When his patient, the current dictator, dies he is slated to be killed as part of the coverup. He escapes with the unwilling aid of a cabaret singer (Glynis Johns), a stranger who is the only person he can find that speaks English. The story is told in flashback and contains some highly tense moments of an escape over high mountains and a bit of comic relief provided by Herbert Lom. First rate! I hope this film can be released on video or seen on television. It shouldn't be missed.

Good Man on the run thriller

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 1 April 2021]

Launder and Gilliatt were experts at this type of thriller,The Lady Vanishes and Night Train To Munich. For most of this film the film goes at a pace. However it gets a bit bogged down in the mountain climb and the ending is just a bit too pat.

Energetic and humorous Hitchcockian chase-thriller.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88 · 9/10 · 10 August 2013]

'State Secret' opens with a scene that shows Douglas Fairbanks Jr. being held captive in a cabin and closes, in the last reel, with the conclusion of this scene. The story that unwinds in the intervening ninety minutes, between these intriguing book-ends, is a thrilling and fast-moving diversion in the best tradition of classic comedy thrillers.

Based upon the absorbing novel 'Appointment With Fear' by Roy Huggins, Fairbanks Jr. plays the famed American surgeon Dr. John Marlowe. Our debonair hero finds himself embroiled up to his neck in the cut-throat workings of Vosnian politics when he accepts an invitation to demonstrate his techniques in the country. He is duped into treating the state's ailing dictator. When his charge suddenly conks out after delicate surgery, escape becomes necessary as the dashing doctor is confronted with the very real prospect of elimination. Striving to elude the tentacles of the oppressive regime, Marlowe has the good fortune to engage the help of a half-English dancer played by the zestful Glynis Johns. Having bribed shady Herbert Lom to help them, they travel towards the border with the police hot on their tails.

The touches of Launder and Gilliat are delightfully evident. An effective sense of place is created, thanks to exemplary studio and location work by Robert Krasker, featuring exciting scenes of car chases on hilly, winding roads and treks across imposing mountains. The cloak-and-dagger mood is in some ways reminiscent of 'The Lady Vanishes'. The real sense of intrigue is wonderfully balanced by their twinkling sense of tongue-in-cheek humour. Jack Hawkins and, especially, Herbert Lom go to town with their roles. Lom steals the movie as the shifty and incredibly jittery crook-with-connections Karl Theodor. The scene where Fairbanks Jr. and Johns hide and surprise him in his luxury apartment is a real highlight of the movie. The palpable sense of relief that Theodor feels when he realises that he is only dealing with blackmail, and not the police, is hilarious. Hawkins' Colonel Galcon is a veritable Machiavellian. He is scheming and ruthless but also urbane and quite dispassionate in the discharging of his considerable duties. He is aptly summed-up by Hawkins' departing words to Fairbanks Jr.: 'If you should happen to hear of a vacant chair for political science anywhere, try to get in touch with me'.

'State Secret' is a rattling good tale delivered with all-round competence and skill. It is a classic of its genre and it definitely merits an official DVD release.

Well-plotted, intelligent thriller

[dierregi · 7/10 · 28 May 2022]

John Marlow, an American surgeon is tricked into performing a risky surgeon on Niva, the dictator of Vosnia, a fictional police state (think Tito and Jugoslavia) and he gets into serious trouble when Niva dies.

Niva's creepy right arm Galcon wants the people to vote for Neva in the forthcoming elections and he decides to eliminate Marlow because he knows too much. There follow a daring escape to Vosnia's capital city, where Marlowe meets a charming lady, quite unwilling to help but somehow forced into it.

The plot works perfectly well, the characters are engaging and there is enough suspence to keep the audience interested. My only negative remark is that the story is told as a long flashback, so that you know (or think to know) already how it is going to end, except for a last minute surprising twist.

Typical 'on the run' type thriller

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 17 March 2020]

STATE SECRET is a typical 'on the run' thriller of 1950, made in the Hitchcock mould. It's fairly enjoyable for what it is, although the direction feels a little plodding compared to that of the master and I do feel that similar films made from the mid '50s onwards tended to be more exciting. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is saddled with a rather unenterprising lead character, a doctor who learns of a secret involving a dictator and is forced to flee from the authorities who want to cover it up. It's acceptable enough viewing, enlivened by a fiesty Glynis Johns and a wonderfully weaselly Herbert Lom, but it never quite catches fire as it should.

State Secret

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 27 December 2022]

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Is "Dr. John Marlowe", lauded by the largely unknown state of Vosnia after he develops an unique form of medical procedure. When he travels there to collect his gong, he finds himself amidst a plot in this totalitarian state to prolong the life of their leader "General Niva". Regardless of what happens, he cannot be left alive to tell a tale, and when this dawns on him, he must escape. Fortunately, he alights of Glynis Johns - an English speaking cabaret dancer and with the help of the suitably sleazy Herbert Lom, they make for the border with Jack Hawkins and his soldiers hot on their heals. I enjoyed this, at times it is a suspenseful drama with enough intrigue to sustain it as they face a few perils on their escapade to safety. There's a fun chemistry between the two stars and it builds nicely to an ending with a teeny, weeny twist. Well worth a watch.

In which Miss Glynis Johns became the love of my life.

[ianlouisiana · 10/10 · 28 July 2007]

I fell in love for the first time whilst watching "State Secret" back in 1951.The object of my pre - pubescent affections was the delectable Miss G.Johns whose sweet husky voice sent tremors down my 10 year - old spine. When she sang "Paper Doll" - familiar to me from my mother's record by a black group called "The Inkspots"(yes,really) - I went into a sort of reverie that lasted until I saw Vera - Ellen in "On the Town" when all thoughts of Miss Johns were swept from my head. I never forgot the movie though,and years later I bought a book of film criticism called "Shots in the dark" that included a very positive review of "State Secret" which I read with fascination and a growing sense of awareness that there might be more to this movie in particular and to movies in general than I had realised. Certainly "State Secret" is a fascinating and entertaining,cleverly scripted and lovingly put together film.Mr D.Fairbanks jr. - in a role that could have been tailor made for Cary Grant - plays a surgeon sent to operate on the president of a Balkan state.He is very suave,with a nice line in white macintoshes.Unfortunately the president dies and Mr Fairbanks becomes persona non grata to the extent that he must be eliminated.Mr J.Hawkins is the security chief whose job it is to keep the president's death a secret.He is the very epitome of the canny opportunist in power,forever sniffing for a change of wind. Miss G.Johns is what used to be called a "chorus girl" marooned in this bleak state and she and Mr Fairbanks team up as innocents abroad to escape to the right side of the Iron Curtain. Mr H.Lom is memorable in a particularly well - written role. Redolent in part of "Foreign Correspondent",the movie has more humour than Mr Hitchcock would have allowed,and its villains are more fully developed and ambiguous than many of his. I have loved it for most of my life and thoroughly recommend it to those who would normally endorse M.Truffaut's comment that the words "British" and "Cinema" are antithetical.I suspect he must have missed "State Secret".

Doug's Best.......

[girvsjoint · 10/10 · 14 November 2016]

State Secret is a forgotten classic, made around the same time as the celebrated 'The Third Man', this film is equally, if not more enjoyable! A thriller in the Hitchcockian tradition, with a nice blend of comedy that doesn't detract from the thrills. Devilishly handsome, dashing and suave Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. in what is arguably his best role as the Doctor running for his life in a foreign country, ably supported by a menacing Jack Hawkins, pretty Glynis Johns, and a hilarious Herbert Lom, in one of the best 'cat & mouse' chases ever made! Nice locales, excellent black & white photography all add up to one hell of a ride! An even bigger mystery is why this film has never been given it's just desserts in an official DVD release? Perhaps it didn't have as catchy a theme as 'The Third Man'?

First mainstream film to make use of Esperanto.

[jdworetzky · 8/10 · 19 August 2006]

This is a wonderful film and well worth seeing; if you can find it! It used to be on TV all the time, but I haven't seen it in years and cannot find a copy. One very interesting fact about the movie is that it was, to the best of my knowledge, the first film to make use of Esperanto. In the film, all the citizens of the made up nation of Vosnia speak Esperanto! Esperanto was constructed in 1887 as a universal language, drawing words and structure from many different languages. The hope was that it would be adopted as an "everyman's language" and be equally difficult for all people to master. State Secret gives the viewer a chance to hear fluent Esperanto, as well as adding flavor to the underlying excitement of the plot.

Slickly done emptiness, with Hawkins' part 70% in a foreign language

[adrianovasconcelos · 5/10 · 23 July 2022]

STATE SECRET has some very good sequences and a clever use of flashback. Capable direction by Sidney Gilliat. Acting is not that high quality: Fairbanks Jr in unlikely to feature on anyone's favorite actors list and here he portrays a somewhat indecisive figure until events force him to act.

The great Hawkins has a meatier part but he spends 70% of the time speaking in what sounds like Roumanian, which is as disconcerting as it is unnecessary, and damages communication with the spectator .

Good photography.

Building tension towards a highly effective finale

[Igenlode Wordsmith · 8/10 · 10 November 2008]

I found the establishing scenes at the beginning of this film to be the weakest point (in particular the inexplicable decision to shoot just a handful of voice-over scenes using a narrator's-eye camera), but from there on it grows from strength to strength, climaxing in a real humdinger of an ending.

An astute decision which adds to the tension is to use an opening scene which makes it clear that the protagonist's escape attempt is ultimately foiled, and treat the rest of the picture in flashback from there; we are constantly, almost subliminally aware that disaster awaits in some unknown form just around the bend, which lends a sense of brooding menace to what might otherwise be a lighthearted caper. (It also makes it entirely plausible, for a few moments, that the whole adventure *will* end very badly indeed, thus delivering considerable emotional punch to an ending which does not insult the audience's intelligence.)

The romantic interest is subtly -- no saccharine speeches are ever delivered, save in the most literal sense! -- and effectively indicated, and both Douglas Fairbanks Jr and Glynis Johns perform competently as the innocents on the run with a dangerous state secret. But the real show-stealers lie among the supporting cast, in particular Herbert Lom in an outstanding minor role as as Theodor the smuggler, and Jack Hawkins as the urbane Colonel who masterminds our hero's liquidation without personal rancour in an entirely disinterested spirit.

As one would expect from a Gilliat/Launder production, the film boasts a sharp script, and the setting in a dictatorial Balkanesque state provides the opportunity for many mordant observations. The picture, however, is less a comedy than an intelligent thriller/chase scenario enlivened with flashes of black humour. Gilliat's original plot concept dates back as far as 1938, but the post-war setting proves equally apt. Production values are generally high (perhaps the greatest proof of that is that an entire mythical 'Vosnian' language was concocted for the use of the film, elements of which can be picked up by the attentive listener!) and the film is an effective piece of entertainment.

Movie Secret

[alanpriest-53916 · 10/10 · 26 February 2020]

This is a movie which for so long seems to have been on a backburner despite its strong cast and speedy flow. Made in 1950, yet it contains much cinematography (albeit black and white) which would be in keeping with a film made many years later. The story, written by Sydney Gilliat is both exciting and well told and skips along in absorbing fashion, keeping alive the kind of political extremes of a few years before under the Nazis, or perhaps a few years later under Communist regimes. The central theme of escapism is really well told and the main characters, played by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Glynis Johns and Jack Hawkins are perfectly performed. A brilliant, yet vastly underrated film.

Getting into trouble by not knowing what patient you are operating on.

[clanciai · 9/10 · 13 November 2019]

This is impressingly well done as everything in it is totally convincing, especially the language specially constructed for this film - it sounds a little bit like Romanian and some Yugoslav languages but is neither of them. Glynis Johns is the most impressing acting contribution here, while Jack Hawkins is superb as a superior leader in charge as usual, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr is exactly the right type for the naïve doctor who is called on to operate on a dictator without knowing it before it's too late. The story is a nail-biting thriller of high tension and suspense, and I am sure even Hitchcock would have been impressed here. The finale in the mountains is a special treat, and the surprises on the way never cease to pile up in constant up-turning of the intrigue. I saw it more than 50 years ago, ever since then I have been looking forward to seeing it again, and it was no disappointment. On the contrary.

John Buchan meets Anthony Hope

[Rueiro · 8/10 · 16 June 2014]

This is a good little thriller that I quite enjoyed watching, since it borrows a lot of elements from "The Prisoner of Zenda" and "The 39 Steps", and it also looks like a Hitchcock thriller: Well written, paced and acted.

A fictitious authoritarian country somewhere in central/eastern Europe, political intrigues, a double impersonating the head of state, picturesque towns and eccentric locals, an exciting car chase, a man running for his life, daggers at dawn, a charming ruthless villain and a totally unexpected ending. Fine entertainment for a Sunday afternoon.

And a fine cast too: Fairbanks Jr as the man in the run, the commanding presence of Jack Hawkins as the master villain and the always excellent Herbert Lom in a small but nevertheless key role.

The Lady Vanishes meets The Third Man

[FilmartDD · 10/10 · 13 October 2003]

The producers wrote films by Hitchcock and Carol Reed, and it shows. A lightweight suspenser, with the charm of impeccably urbane Fairbanks and that Paper Doll lady (surprisingly, Jack Hawkins lacks a light touch). Marvellously photographed by Robert Krasker-- how did he fit it in with The Third Man -- in the Dolomite Mountains (see contemporary report in Sight and Sound magazine). Little recognised, but this is cinematic st

Viva! Niva!

[richardchatten · 9/10 · 15 February 2020]

Based on a novel by the creator of the TV series 'The Virginian'. This cracking Cold War retread of 'The Prisoner of Zenda', with Italy standing in for the fictitious Balkan republic of Vosnia (national anthem courtesy of William Alwyn), is a consummate job all round that ranks alongside antecedents like 'The 39 Steps' and 'The Mortal Storm' and deserves to be much better known today.