After a wonderful day catching up with friends in Milton Keynes,I decided to wrap things up by watching a movie on Talking Pictures at the hotel. Hearing praise in the past for this title, I got ready to count to five.
View on the film:
Scheming to go behind enemy lines, in order to leak them details about his own side, James Mason gives an excellent performance as Diello, who slithers with a psychopathic charming gentlemen image, hiding the sting of his deadly intent to spy on his fellow officials,and take snaps of their official secret documents.
Made with just months to go before his contract with Fox ran out, (and later claiming that studio head Darryl F. Zanuck had cut out some of the best scenes from the movie) co-writer (with Michael Wilson)/ director Joseph L. Mankiewicz & Thieves' Highway (1949-also reviewed) cinematographer Norbert Brodine run the incredible real life espionage, into a dry stage-bound atmosphere, via firmly sticking to mid-shots in interchangeable offices which drains the tension of Diello's spying, until Bernard Herrmann's rousing score encourages Diello to reveal his plan in his final mission.
Doing uncredited re-writing on the project, Mankiewicz fills the screenplay by Michael Wilson with slick playful dialogue which bounces between Diello attempting to catch the gaze of Staviska, (played by a glamorous Danielle Darrieux) and going on a charm offensive to make those on the other side trust him,by showing the secrets hidden between his fingers.
View on the film:
Scheming to go behind enemy lines, in order to leak them details about his own side, James Mason gives an excellent performance as Diello, who slithers with a psychopathic charming gentlemen image, hiding the sting of his deadly intent to spy on his fellow officials,and take snaps of their official secret documents.
Made with just months to go before his contract with Fox ran out, (and later claiming that studio head Darryl F. Zanuck had cut out some of the best scenes from the movie) co-writer (with Michael Wilson)/ director Joseph L. Mankiewicz & Thieves' Highway (1949-also reviewed) cinematographer Norbert Brodine run the incredible real life espionage, into a dry stage-bound atmosphere, via firmly sticking to mid-shots in interchangeable offices which drains the tension of Diello's spying, until Bernard Herrmann's rousing score encourages Diello to reveal his plan in his final mission.
Doing uncredited re-writing on the project, Mankiewicz fills the screenplay by Michael Wilson with slick playful dialogue which bounces between Diello attempting to catch the gaze of Staviska, (played by a glamorous Danielle Darrieux) and going on a charm offensive to make those on the other side trust him,by showing the secrets hidden between his fingers.