Der Fall Teckmann

A film about a missing test pilot and Cold War espionage seem a promising foundation for 90 minutes of drama and entertainment. However, despite the first hour of the film offering an exciting, if convoluted narrative, the last 30 minutes drags, meanders and eventually loses its way, mainly due to the fact that the storyline seems to present a very far fetched and tedious series of events. Likeable John Justin, puts in a sound and smooth performance as the writer, who gets caught up in a web of intrigue. The splendid Raymond Huntley, as the publisher, and Roland Culver, as the MI5 officer, offer sterling support, but their lack of screen time give them little time to display their considerable acting skills. On the other hand, Margaret Leighton is woefully miscast as the fraught sister of the missing pilot. She is too cold, detached and always dressed as if she was going to a cocktail party! When she's on the screen, she displays no nuances of emotion, and whatever the scene, her voice and manner remain the same! The ending of the film is sloppily done, disappointing and unconvincing! This is very much a film which shows great promise at the start, but then fizzles out too soon.

Nice post-war British espionage mystery. Clever and wonderfully acted. Margaret Leighton super (of course), but whole cast top notch.

I just wanted to say a few words about this gem of a film. I gladly watched the 90 minutes and enjoyed all of the suspense. I ordered this film as I like British Film Noir and I happened to notice Margaret Leighton's name topping the cast. I am also a John Justin and Raymond Huntley fan too! It is always nice to see Jane Wenhem who is little known. The photography is really done very nicely. Once I started watching I had to see what happened to the brother who was suspiciously murdered. From the first engaging moments through the rest of the film I really got caught up in the suspense! I think the entire film was wrapped up in a tidy way. At the end we find that things work out unexpectedly! But we still have enjoyed watching.

I wasn't as enamored of this as some. A biographer researching a book on a dead pilot falls for the pilot's sister.

As he gets further into the pilot's death and the aircraft he was flying, people start turning up dead.

The film stars John Justin as the author and Margaret Leighton as the pilot's sister.

The story is told by director Wendy Toye without much in the way of plot - it's very no-nonsense. That makes the different twists less confusing but not very exciting. If you're looking for tension, it's not there. John Justin, however, is appealing

I felt this could have been better. It didn't draw me in. For me there wasn't enough there there.

In response to the review that felt this movie was slow: well, it didn't open with machine guns blazing, if that's what you mean.

For an older British espionage movie, this film actually moves along quite briskly.

If you like British movies, you are sure to like this. Even if you don't normally watch British film, you may well like this.

If you watched and enjoyed the original Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, you will certainly enjoy this, as the action is sizzling in comparison.