Subway in the Sky

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.

This movie is based on a stage play and it shows--despite some opening out of the action much of the picture takes place on a single set. Van Johnson-here simply going through the motions-plays Major Baxter Grant,an American army doctor in post war Germany who is falsely accused of drug dealing and murder .He flees to Berlin where his wife Anna(a wooden Katherine Kath)is still living She has rented their apartment to a cabaret singer played with some style by Hildegarde Neff who believes in his innocence and shields him from both the German police and the American army investigator played well by Cec Linder who makes the most of his role as a vulpine and unpleasant albeit competent investigator

Will Baxter be cleared?Who is the real villain?Will you remain awake long enough to satisfy yourself on these points?

It is very talky with poor dialogue and ineptly handled action scenes.Box does not direct the film -she merely points the camera in the general direction of the cast and lets them sink or swim

Exactly the kind of tepid dross that gave much of mainstream British cinema in the era such a reputation for listless,supine bourgeois ineptitude.

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.

Army officer Van Johnson spends most of the movie hiding out in Hildegarde Neff's apartment as he tries to prove his innocence of drug theft and murder. Cec Linder steals the show as the MP on his trail in this fairly ordinary thriller.