State Secret (1950)
1h 44m | PG-13
While working in England, an American surgeon Dr. John Marlowe is invited to Vosnia (a fictitious East-European country) to receive an award and demonstrate his life-saving surgery. Unwittingly caught in the middle of a dangerous and corrupt series of political events, Marlowe then becomes the object of a shoot-to-kill, vicious pursuit. Fleeing, he seeks help from an English-speaking actress, Lisa Robinson, and the two attempt to escape across the treacherous mountains of Vosnia.
Director: Sidney Gilliat
Studio: London Films Productions
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Romance, Mystery
Video: 720p
Cast
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
as Dr. John Marlowe
Glynis Johns
as Lisa Robinson
Jack Hawkins
as Colonel Galcon
Herbert Lom
as Karl Theodor
Walter Rilla
as General Niva
Karl Stepanek
as Dr. Revo
Reviews
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is "Dr. John Marlowe", lauded by the largely unknown state of Vosnia after he develops an unique form of medical procedure. When he travels there to collect his gong, he finds himself amidst a plot in this totalitarian state to prolong the life of their leader "General Niva". Regardless of what happens, he cannot be left alive to tell a tale, and when this dawns on him, he must escape. Fortunately, he alights of Glynis Johns - an English speaking cabaret dancer and with the help of the suitably sleazy Herbert Lom, they make for the border with Jack Hawkins and his soldiers hot on their heals. I enjoyed this, at times it is a suspenseful drama with enough intrigue to sustain it as they face a few perils on their escapade to safety. There's a fun chemistry between the two stars and it builds nicely to an ending with a teeny, weeny twist. Well worth a watch.