Das Schloss im Schatten

I saw this movie projected onto a screen, from the DVD, I think; it looked as good as old films usually do. I found it very enjoyable and was surprised that I had not seen it before. However, I feel gratified to read the complaints by one member here who could not figure out all the plot details: I couldn't, either! Now, after reading more information or speculation about the making of the film, I see why. I found that there is a whole website and society devoted to the author of the book, John Meade Falkner, and a biography of him was published not long ago.

This is my first time viewing this website. I'm impressed by the quality of the comments; I'll definitely come back.

In the 50s, the great Errol Flynn was getting long in the tooth and Stewart Granger, tall, suave and incredibly "cool," by today's standards, was filling the role of the dashing adventurer in those halcyon days of moviedom before TV gutted the industry. This film directed by the venerable Fritz Lang is an immensely entertaining adventure with pirates, villains and intrigue all handled with dash and aplomb by Stewart Granger. Alas, no video but watch for it on the late night show and, as another reviewer has suggested, tape it for seeing again and again.

Young John Mohune comes to Dorset to meet a man called Jeremy Fox who he believes was a friend of his late mother and will help look after him. Expecting a friend in Fox, John is upset to find an uncaring man who has no interest in John. He persists though in trying to gain the friendship and attention of Fox even in the face of great dissuasion. All Fox's acquaintances are rather desperate men, which fly in the face of his rather "proper" appearance. John doesn't suspect anything, being a child, but the area is famous for smugglers and Fox may be connected and perhaps be more dangerous than anyone realises – not least the innocent John Mohune.

I watched this film simply because I was a bit taken aback by the fact that it was a Fritz Lang film. Not being a name I would have associated with a period film I decided to take a look and see what he did with it. In fairness Falkner's source material does give him something to work with and there are interesting themes and ideas running through it. It takes a little bit to get going but after a while the smuggling story and the relationships make for a good adventure that is brisk enough for children while also having a bit of meat for the adults. I quite enjoyed the sweeping adventure feel it had but I was more interested in the character of Fox, who is never a "good man" and is all the better for it (in terms of the narrative). Lang appears to be interested in this as well, and he does make Fox the biggest part of the film.

Granger rises to this by turning in a solid performance where he is a rough character but not to the point where he loses the audience. The problem with the film is not with him – unfortunately it is with Jon Whiteley. He is too cute and very much a child actor – and I don't mean that in a good way. He isn't really able to emote and, apologies for the lack of intelligent criticism, but he just got on my nerves. I'm sure this film didn't want to go too deep but I would be happy to see a remake of this with a stronger and more natural child actor in the role, that may allow the relationship to be developed a bit further. Sanders is always a welcome presence but he is given very little to do. The rest of the support cast are all solid enough but the film is pretty much Granger's and he works it well even if Whiteley isn't up to much.

Overall though this is a solid little adventure tale that makes for solid family viewing. It is brisk and swashbuckling enough to entertain children while the solid yarn will engage adults. The cast mostly give a good account of themselves and, while I didn't hate him, I must admit that Whiteley was annoying to me personally and his performance here suggested a good education but a limited ability.

You have seldom seem a picture so crowed with excitement ¡ . It starts in Dortshire coast, Moonfleet , England, 1775 ,october , (Moonfleet is set in Dorset, England The Fleet refers to the land just west of Portland, Southern England ) a young boy named John Mohune (John Whiteley) is sent by his deceased mummy to seek Jeremy Fox (Stewart Granger) who is actually a rakish buccaneer . Then Fox puts him under his protection and is proceeded a special father-son relationship . The boy learns that Fox is both a ex-lover of his mum and the leader of a band of smugglers. Meanwhile both of whom look for and encounter a legendary lost diamond . Fox still haunted by the memory of the dying mother but also has another lover (Viveca Lindfords) who double-crosses him .

This classic adventure film contains emotion , intrigue , chills, and colorful scenarios. Wonderful relationship along with strong friendship is developed between the buccaneer perfectly incarnated by Stewart Granger and the newcomer boy . It contains dark moments in Hammer style as happens when the young boy journeys across an eerie world full of hanging trees , gallows , ghastly sculptures , and cemeteries plenty of coffins . Wonderful secondary cast full of prestigious secondaries as George Sanders , Joan Greenwood , Alan Napier , John Hoyt , Jack Elam , Ian Wolfe , among others . Impressive production design with glamorous sets by Hans Peters . Glimmer cinematography in superb Eastmancolor and CinemaScope by Robert Planck and mostly filmed in studios , during six weeks in 1954 , being exteriors shot in Oceanside , California. Thrilling and emotive musical score by Miklos Rozsa . The motion picture lavishly produced by also actor John Houseman is stunningly directed by Fritz Lang . Lang directed masterfully all kind of genres as Noir cinema as ¨Big heat , Scarlet Street and Beyond a reasonable doubt¨ , Epic as ¨Nibelungs¨, suspense as ¨Secret beyond the door, Clash by night¨ , Western as ¨Rancho Notorious and Return of Frank James ¨ and of course Adventure as ¨Moonfleet¨ . This good adventure drama with lots of exciting and thrilling moments will appeal to Stewart Granger fans . Rating : Better than average , resulting to be a marvellous stylised version of the Great Britain coast in the 19th century . Worthwhile watching .

Having read the earlier reviews of this movie, I do agree, in part, with some of them. But would like to give my two cents anyway.

This movie was based on a quite good 1898 novel by John Meade Falkner. Unfortunately Hollywood thought they could improve on the story line---with bad results (why am I not surprised).

Where did they ever come up with the name Jeremy Fox to replace Elzevir Block? And why did they make the boy so young? Not to mention the many other plot deviations (i.e. devious woman) which detracted from the tale. This could have been another 'Treasure Island' had the producers been a little less prone to taking liberties with literature.

Now this movie is still very watchable mind you. And Granger is not too bad in his role. But if you want an idea of what the movie could have been, read the book!