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THE SECRET MAN is a British attempt at a Cold War spy thriller which is so cheap and lifeless that it's difficult to sit through without becoming bored by the whole experience. It's a pity, as obviously time and resources have been wasted on what is a lacklustre production, lacking the drive and sense of danger that would have made it a decent movie.

The film features Marshall Thompson who plays a rocket scientist working in England. Thompson is familiar from his starring roles in a number of British 'B' horror and sci fi pics including FIEND WITHOUT A FACE and FIRST MAN INTO SPACE; those two films were also made by Amalgamated Productions, who produced THE SECRET MAN. Incidentally, they're a lot better than this 'straight' thriller, which misses the mark throughout.

Thompson's character believes that an enemy spy is working undercover at his laboratory so he decides to investigate to try to bring the fellow to light. The authorities take an interest and he himself goes undercover to catch the suspect. Lots of shenanigans follow, none of which are interesting, and there aren't even any good British character actors in support. THE SECRET MAN really is a waste of time, and not something I can recommend.

A bleak, talky Cold War drama enhanced by the use of wintry actual locations of a smoggy postwar London still bearing the scars of the Blitz.

The mystery turns upon who is going ultimately to be revealed (which I figured out) as the Mabuse-like mastermind directing by radio the nest of spies operating in a Britain already rocked by the defection of Burgess & Maclean and no longer sure who is left who can be trusted.

Mitchell Thompson is the parachuted in American actor,who plays a scientist trying to uncover a spy ring.On the basis of his performance in this film it is little surprise that he found his true place in television.John Loder,once incredibly the husband of Hedy Lamaar,plays the police inspector in his usual wooden manner.This was his penultimate appearance in a British film.Also featured are veteran actors Henry Oscar and John Stuart.The film was clearly influenced by the Burgess/Maclain case to which Loder actually refers.The film is as exciting as a cold cup of tea.Interesting to see London in the 1950s,still showing the effects of the blitz and very much down at heels.

Amazingly no review yet has noticed who wrote the screenplay. Brian Clemens was a veteran writer in this genre who later created The Avengers and the Professionals deservedly received considerable credit for these and many many other TV and cinema productions. And this film too is more inventive, more interesting and better written than the hundreds of other budget British B&W films of the era featuring a budget US star. It is a mistake to rubber stamp it as a quota quickie - it's considerably better than this. Elements from it are to be seen in the James Bonds and another in The Great St Trinians Train Robbery. I cant judge but get the impression that there are genuine authentic elements too. When all are suspect how do you know who to trust?

The budget, cast and direction does not rise above the average but the key parts of the story could be re-made today. The London shooting locations - today for millionaires - were then grimy and bomb-blasted. The weather too was uniformly grey and misty.

A 6.5

Physicist Marshall Thompson is kidnapped by John Loder, who demands to know about the project he is working on. Despite what is implied to be a grueling session, Thompson doesn't crack. So Loder, who actually works for counter-espionage recruits him. There's someone on the project who is leaking secrets. Marshall will help him catch the bad guy by pretending to be willing to sell what he knows.

It's competent in all departments, even as it betrays its cheapness in production. Still, the plot keeps chugging long, and the big climax at the end is shot on location by cinematographer Geoffrey Faithfull, in gloomy-looking, wrecked buildings that offer the grubby work of spies an appropriate venue. It's not a great movie, but it's good enough to fill its 70 minutes pretty well.