Directed by:
John HustonScreenplay:
Anthony VeillerCinematography:
Joseph MacDonaldComposer:
Jerry GoldsmithCast:
Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, George C. Scott, Dana Wynter, Clive Brook, Gladys Cooper, Herbert Marshall (more)Plots(1)
Adrian Messenger is a man in the middle of a mystery. With his suspicions raised by a series of gruesome, yet seemingly unrelated deaths, Adrian asks his friend, retired MI5 agent Anthony Gethryn (George C. Scott), to investigate a secret list bearing the names of the deceased. When Messenger is himself killed, it transpires that a sinister villain is using a variety of disguises to work his way through and eliminate the eleven names on Messenger's list. It remains the perilous task of the ever-crafty Gethryn to uncover the deadly conspiracy before it is too late. (Umbrella Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (2)
The dramatically declaiming protagonist borders on parody, as do the dialogue and the twists. However, there is very little intentional humor in this comedy, not to mention that the eagerly anticipated costume trick falls completely flat in today's day and age. All the credit therefore goes to Kirk Douglas and his masculine appearance, which can easily stir up, maybe even demolish, all the expectations and surrounding monotony in just a single scene (the one at the piano). The remaining plot and characters, on the other hand, are like ones straight out of the most clichéd paperback farce.
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A nice plaything - I couldn't make up my mind while watching it, but then came the "unmasking ending" and it suddenly became clear to me that John Huston wasn't being serious. How could he be, with such a poor script? In terms of direction (thanks to the beautiful cinematography) it was done to perfection, the acting likewise, and I didn't mind the fact that the actors wrapped in latex masks were recognizable from the others at first sight, quite the opposite.
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