Secret d'état

State Secret is a forgotten classic, made around the same time as the celebrated 'The Third Man', this film is equally, if not more enjoyable! A thriller in the Hitchcockian tradition, with a nice blend of comedy that doesn't detract from the thrills. Devilishly handsome, dashing and suave Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. in what is arguably his best role as the Doctor running for his life in a foreign country, ably supported by a menacing Jack Hawkins, pretty Glynis Johns, and a hilarious Herbert Lom, in one of the best 'cat & mouse' chases ever made! Nice locales, excellent black & white photography all add up to one hell of a ride! An even bigger mystery is why this film has never been given it's just desserts in an official DVD release? Perhaps it didn't have as catchy a theme as 'The Third Man'?

"State Secret" is one of the best political thrillers that I have ever seen. The storyline, script, acting, photography and direction are all top notch. Considering that the film is over 50 years old, it does not seem dated at all; in fact, the plot could easily be applicable to this day. Douglas Fairbanks manages to convince in his role as the visiting American surgeon, but it is the supporting cast - Glynis Johns, Jack Hawkins and particularly Herbert Lom that runs the show. Lom has one of the best one-liners in Hollywood history when he disdainfully tells Fairbanks "Oh please, don't say that it is the principle of the thing....that usually turns out to be so much more expensive!" Sidney Gillat's direction keeps the pace brisk & eventful. A must buy on DVD, certainly for me.

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/

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.

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.