La carta fatal

A cold-blooded murder takes place on an American military base in the western German region of Palatinate. At the same time, nightclub singer Lilli Hoffmann (Hildegard KNEF) moves into a furnished penthouse in West Berlin, which she rents for a few months from the hastily departing Anna Grant (Katherine KATH). The two events actually have nothing to do with each other. Or so it seems, until the beautiful Lilli discovers the US Major Baxter Grant (Van JOHNSON) on her roof terrace one night.

Directed by British director Muriel BOX, this is a crime story that could only take place in post-war Germany occupied by the Allies. It becomes clear that the story is based on a play. Almost everything takes place in the penthouse apartment. KNEF appears here under her international star name Hildegarde NEFF. And of course NEFF also gets to sing a song, "Love Is Not Love".

Other roles include Albert LIEVEN as Lilli's lawyer and the young Vivian MATALON as the major's stepson.

The British crime drama was filmed in London's Shepperton Studios. All you can see of West Germany are the signs along the motorway. It is a pure studio production that seems almost forgotten in German-speaking countries despite the participation of Hildegard KNEF. That's a shame. SUBWAY IN THE SKY is not a masterpiece, but it does offer a solid crime story. Hildegard KNEF is a little under-challenged in this black-and-white production, but she wears charming costumes and also surprises with a turbulent action sequence.

Not s classic by any means and clunky at times in both script and character motivation, this is nevertheless a fun, easygoing watch. It's adapted from a stage play, which is easy to discern from the structure of the film (lots of action in one living room, where doorbells keep ringing with people constantly going in and out).

We watched it on late night TV and neither fell asleep nor changed channels, so consider that an endorsement!

Just an easy watch that entertains. Hildegard Knef, well you can guess she was quite the star in West Germany in those days.

SUBWAY IN THE SKY is a very dull British thriller based around illegal drug smuggling in the army. Lame duck actor Van Johnson plays an American major who is falsely accused of being a drug dealer so he decides to go A.W.O.L. in an attempt to clear his name. He hides out in his wife's apartment, little realising that it has already been leased to a German singer who chooses to help him in his quest for justice.

I don't know much about Van Johnson outside of this movie but I can report that his performance here is perfunctory at best. He's hardly the type of hero you can root for or indeed even care about as he feels wooden throughout. Hildegard Knef is much better as the warm-hearted singer who befriends him although the best performance goes to Cec Linder whose character has a Terminator-style unstoppable quality about him in his relentless and incessant hunt for the missing man.

SUBWAY IN THE SKY is one of those movies based on a stage play and it does feel very stage bound and constrained by the single location. It's also incredibly boring, with never a moment of suspense or tension in all those long minutes of running time. I don't wish to knock the talents of director Muriel Box but she doesn't really feel cut out for film on the strength of her work here. The film has a single decent scene, a shockingly explicit moment on a balcony, and that's exactly it.

Editor: Mr Harvey's somewhat over-the-top negative review of SUBWAY IN THE SKY may keep viewers away from what was a modestly made yet enjoyable story. Having just seen the picture for the first time yesterday I can honestly say that I was surprised how interesting it was. It kept the viewer firmly in his seat and was well acted by most of the performers. Van Johnson was playing a part unusual for him and he did it well while Hildegard Neff was fascinating to watch. The film was well edited and nicely photographed within the constraints of what was, of course, a filmed play.

While I agree that Muriel Box and her writers could have made it more cinematic by opening up the play more I cannot fault her for having told a good story. Mr Harvey's lambasting the film for poor writing and ineptitude is inexplicable considering what I saw on the screen. If you're in the mood for a tight, simple and cozy thriller some evening, catch it when it's on TV...and have a good supply of popcorn handy.

I would recommend the film to anyone who enjoys a briskly told story.