Directed by:
Sidney GilliatScreenplay:
Sidney GilliatCinematography:
Robert KraskerComposer:
William AlwynCast:
Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns, Walter Rilla, Karel Štěpánek, Herbert Lom, Hans Moser, Anton Diffring, Pavel Demel, Olga Lowe, Arthur Howard (more)Plots(1)
Visiting in England, famed American surgeon Doctor John Marlowe is decoyed to a middle European country, and discovers the operation he is to perform is on the Vosnian dictator. When the latter dies, he is replaced by a look-alike, but Marlowe is the object of a shoot-to-kill, vicious pursuit by the secret police of Vosnia since it is vital to Vosnia that the dictator's death does not become known. Fleeing, he seeks help from an English-speaking actress, Lisa Robinson, and the two are harried across the countryside before being captured. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
Third fifty-cent story in a row, and even though it was the oldest film of the trio, it was clearly the best for me. It was not a typical chamber affair like in the previous two cases, this was already a full-fledged film with an almost Orwellian story, very good casting, and a distinct Czech (or rather Czechoslovak) imprint. The totalitarian state was naturally located in Eastern Europe, as even current events confirm such a choice. However, I am quite scared that many methods pointed out by George Orwell are increasingly used west of our borders, and have brutally flourished across the Atlantic in a country that considers itself the cradle of democracy and freedom. Well, nowadays books are commonly banned in this cradle, the presumption of innocence has essentially ceased to exist, and I wouldn't be surprised if soon borders started burning under the prints of visionary book 1984. But I have shifted immensely from the movie, which had its cult character with a cheesy name, Colonel Galcon, who surely fell asleep with Machiavelli's Prince on his bedside table, a desperate surgeon, and a lady in distress. For me, it was an interesting encounter with an adventurous film about a totalitarian state, which did not lack hidden humor at first sight, and in which Herbert Lom could show that he was indeed a great actor. Karel Štěpánek's role was still less prominent. Well, I was entertained, there is no doubt about that, I did not expect it, so I will give this nostalgic piece a rating of four surprised five-pointed stars. / Lesson: Think very carefully about tempting offers from police states. ()