I certainly enjoyed this film, but it made me very uneasy. Herbert Lom, who is fourth-billed, his name appearing on the second panel of the credits even though he has the biggest part, is a phenomenal screen presence, menacing and charming. All the Anglo characters despise him without any reason. The Anglo male leads, Lyons and Farrar, are jealous, rude and finally homicidal. And you get the impression that the film-makers think that all their maliciousness is justified merely because Lom is foreign and intelligent.
Made in 1943, this film could have easily been made in Germany at the same time with Lom posing as a Jew. I suppose he's supposed to resemble a German, but Lom (who is 5 foot 9 inches) is constantly referred to as "little" and "dirty". Great suspense scenes, well worth seeing, but...
Made in 1943, this film could have easily been made in Germany at the same time with Lom posing as a Jew. I suppose he's supposed to resemble a German, but Lom (who is 5 foot 9 inches) is constantly referred to as "little" and "dirty". Great suspense scenes, well worth seeing, but...