Having survived a number of disquieting incidents, an engineer specialized in international oil field research arrives in Istanbul. After yet another incident, authorities tell him the truth, to wit that he's become a wanted man - and not in a "most popular bachelor" kind of way. In spite of his misgivings, the engineer is ordered to embark upon one of the first ships leading away from Turkey...
Boasting a tremendous cast, "Journey into fear" is a blend of thriller and action/adventure. There is also comedy - Zero Mostel, for instance, is in delightful form - but some of the merriment seems too merry for what is essentially a tale about a long and violent pursuit. The ending is pretty violent, too.
Part of the story is set in Turkey, another part is set on a passenger ship travelling first to Greece and thence to Italy. The movie makes good use of the near-universal anxiety felt by travellers and tourists. Indeed, much of the events read like a black-hearted comment on typical tourist worries. ("Does that policeman understand my language ? Why is he shouting at me ? What is he saying ? Is this, dunno, the gate to the presidential garden ? Should I tell him about that guy who bothered me in the park or is that more likely to land ME in prison, although I did nothing wrong ?")
This, the 1975 "Journey into fear", was my first acquaintance with the material ; I gather there's a source novel and an earlier movie adaptation, but I'm unfamiliar with both of them. I liked the movie well enough, mainly for the magnificently threatening performances given by Ian McShane and Vincent Price. Both collectively and individually, McShane and Price could make a rottweiler slink away in fear. Talk about two characters one would not like to meet in a dark alley...
Boasting a tremendous cast, "Journey into fear" is a blend of thriller and action/adventure. There is also comedy - Zero Mostel, for instance, is in delightful form - but some of the merriment seems too merry for what is essentially a tale about a long and violent pursuit. The ending is pretty violent, too.
Part of the story is set in Turkey, another part is set on a passenger ship travelling first to Greece and thence to Italy. The movie makes good use of the near-universal anxiety felt by travellers and tourists. Indeed, much of the events read like a black-hearted comment on typical tourist worries. ("Does that policeman understand my language ? Why is he shouting at me ? What is he saying ? Is this, dunno, the gate to the presidential garden ? Should I tell him about that guy who bothered me in the park or is that more likely to land ME in prison, although I did nothing wrong ?")
This, the 1975 "Journey into fear", was my first acquaintance with the material ; I gather there's a source novel and an earlier movie adaptation, but I'm unfamiliar with both of them. I liked the movie well enough, mainly for the magnificently threatening performances given by Ian McShane and Vincent Price. Both collectively and individually, McShane and Price could make a rottweiler slink away in fear. Talk about two characters one would not like to meet in a dark alley...