Secret d'état

1950 was a great year for films, but for some reason two fine ones came out that had the same plot line (with variations) set in two different parts of the world. These were CRISIS and STATE SECRET. CRISIS was set in Latin America, in a country run by a dictator and his cronies, similar to the Perons in Argentina. The dictator (Jose Ferrer) has a brain tumor, and when an American brain surgeon (Cary Grant) and his wife come to the country on a vacation, the dictator puts pressure on the brain surgeon to perform secret surgery on him. Grant also has pressure on him by the local revolutionaries (led by Gilbert Roland) to botch the operation.

STATE SECRET was a British film starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Hawkins, Glynnis Johns, and Herbert Lom. Vacationing in a Balkan state that is not totally Communist (read Yugoslavia), Fairbanks is pressured by the head of the Secret Service (Hawkins) into operating on the Genreralisimo (a type of elderly version of Tito) who is gravely ill. When, after an initial period where the patient is responding well to the operation, the dictator dies, Fairbanks realizes that his life is in danger (Hawkins can't have the death of the dictator revealed so early - there has to be a replacement ready in the wings). Fairbanks' adventures in fleeing (aided by Johns and Lom) are the basis of the plot.

I find the sociological background to Latin American politics in CRISIS better than the Balkan background to STATE SECRET, but there are nice touches. Hawkins is a dangerous foe, but he is a man with an astute political brain. Lom (playing his normal villainous type: a blackmailing scoundrel) turns in a superb comic performance when he unwittingly stumbles on a secret he'd prefer never knowing at all. Fairbanks Jr. was always underrated as an actor, because too many critics saw him as trying to carry on the tradition of swashbuckling films his father made famous in the silent period. But he was better than that, and shows real, growing concern for Johns and her safety as the film continues.

If possible try to see this and CRISIS together, to see which one is better. I bet you will find that an impossible choice. Enjoy them both.

When you see films of the caliber of 'State Secret' it makes you ask how the industry can 'loose' them for so long between the rare screenings! The credits for this near forgotten classic are masterful. Produced and Directed by the talented team of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat (Hitchcock collaborators from way back) this has style that puts some of Hitch's films to shame. Gilliat also adapted the screenplay from prolific writer: Roy Huggins novel. The film moves along at a cracking pace, with a chase across many varied landscapes...night journeys on river barges, over deadly Mountain ranges, through city streets, etc.

The Director of Photography is none other than Award winner Robert Krasker ('The Third Man' - 'El Cid', etc) and assisting him is future feature Director: Guy Green ('James Bond' - 'Remo', etc) The look these professionals create together is first class. If you enjoy fast moving suspense dramas, tinged with wry touches of humour this could be waiting for you to discover (or re-visit)

Cast wise: Douglas Fairbanks Jr is surprisingly good in a mature roll of famous Surgon, framed by foreign agents to perform operation on 'mystery man' with dynamite results! In an early role, the astonishingly 'cute' Glynis Johns is marvelous. Herbert Lom is used to excellent effect as an international con man drawn into a dangerous liaison with the escaping duo. Jack Hawkins, as usual, is totally convincing as the menacing political manipulator. This film journey is filled with creative touches throughout. Find it on DVD (if you can) otherwise scour the TV Guide and don't miss it.

Gem Digital TV in Australia somehow dug it out of the vaults (they probably inherited it in a package deal without being aware what they had - this often happens) then screened it as one of their Sunday afternoon movies. As usual, they presented it in their throw-away, semi-unprofessional manor, with the way too LARGE, lolly 'PINK' station Logo running over the stylish B/W photography. Then proceeded to pepper it with gaudy colour 'pop up' adds, for shows that the audience for this style of movie won't watch in a pink fit! Don't they know...has no one taught them?

While at least they had a superbly re-mastered print with clear image and good contrast, they then ran the sound track through an 'auto level controller' (A.L.C.) so that during the films quieter moments the ALC unit goes off looking for sound that's not even there, leaving the viewer to suffer 'Hiss and Background noise' till someone speaks again. Pitiful. Oh well, at least they did screen it! Bless their little hearts!

I viewed this film at Cinevent in Columbus, Ohio on Memorial Day weekend, 2001. It is one of Fairbanks's best performances. He is believable as an American physician brought to a eastern European nation under false pretenses. When his patient, the current dictator, dies he is slated to be killed as part of the coverup. He escapes with the unwilling aid of a cabaret singer (Glynis Johns), a stranger who is the only person he can find that speaks English. The story is told in flashback and contains some highly tense moments of an escape over high mountains and a bit of comic relief provided by Herbert Lom. First rate! I hope this film can be released on video or seen on television. It shouldn't be missed.

State Secret casts Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, as an American doctor practicing in London who goes on a goodwill tour behind the Iron Curtain to demonstrate a ew surgical technique.

Fairbanks is wined and dined and feted and then performs the operation and bad for him that he recognizes his patient is the country's dictator.

The secret police in the person of Jack Hawkins try to hold him, but Fairbanks escapes in possession of one of the biggest State Secrets out there. The rest of the film is Fairbanks and his efforts to flee the country.

Fairbanks gives a wonderful portrayal of a trapped man. Not knowing the language is a frightful and almost insurmountable barrier. A meting with Glynis John who is an entertainer who speaks English because her mother was from the United Kingdom is a godsend. Their scenes together as Fairbanks tries to persuade Glynis to help are special.

The atmosphere shown of the omnipresent state is the best thing about State Secret. Another special performance is that of Herbert Lom as a fixer who will help if it suits him for a price.

State Secret is one excellent Cold War drama/

This is a wonderful film and well worth seeing; if you can find it! It used to be on TV all the time, but I haven't seen it in years and cannot find a copy. One very interesting fact about the movie is that it was, to the best of my knowledge, the first film to make use of Esperanto. In the film, all the citizens of the made up nation of Vosnia speak Esperanto! Esperanto was constructed in 1887 as a universal language, drawing words and structure from many different languages. The hope was that it would be adopted as an "everyman's language" and be equally difficult for all people to master. State Secret gives the viewer a chance to hear fluent Esperanto, as well as adding flavor to the underlying excitement of the plot.