Hotel Reserve (1944)

A hunt for a spy, in an hotel in the South of France just before World War Two.

Directors:

Lance Comfort, Mutz Greenbaum,

Writers:

Eric Ambler (adapted from the novel "Epitaph for a Spy" by), John Davenport (adaptation)

Stars:

James Mason, Lucie Mannheim, Raymond Lovell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Mason	...	Peter Vadassy
Lucie Mannheim	...	Mme Suzanne Koch
Raymond Lovell	...	Robert Duclos
Julien Mitchell	...	Michel Beghin, intelligence chief
Herbert Lom	...	Andre Roux
Martin Miller	...	Walter Vogel
Clare Hamilton	...	Mary Skelton
Frederick Valk	...	Emil Schimler, alias Paul Heimberger
Patricia Medina	...	Odette Roux
Anthony Shaw	...	Major Anthony Chandon-Hartley
Laurence Hanray	...	Police Commissioner (as Lawrence Hanray)
David Ward	...	Henri Asticot
Valentine Dyall	...	Warren Skelton
Joseph Almas	...	Albert, the waiter (as Josef Almas)
Patricia Hayes	...	Woman

Storyline

An Austrian medical student living and working in France is hauled in by the police while on holiday in the south of the country. Accused of espionage he is sent back to his hotel to find out who might really be the spy. Not only his freedom but his chance of becoming a French citizen rests on what he can uncover,

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | spy | france | based on novel

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Epitaph for a Spy

Filming Locations:

D&P Studios, Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The camera that Peter Vadassy uses is a Zeiss Ikon Contax.

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Goofs

When Vadassy's film is examined in the viewer, positive images are seen, although they are referred to several times as negatives.

User Reviews

Too Many Cooks

Looks like RKO had a British productions unit that would explain the non-American cast, and perhaps also why the unusual number of three directors was used on a black and white programmer. Some of the sets are impressive, especially the tower used in the final scene. Also, Frederick Valt impresses as the sinister Schimler, along with a sparkling Clare Hamilton who's a dead ringer for her sister Maureen O'Hara and apparently just as talented; yet, this is her only screen appearance and I'm curious why.

Nonetheless, in my little book, the movie disappoints, mainly because it's set up as a suspense film, yet doesn't really manage much suspense. We're introduced to each of ten suspects, one of which is a Nazi agent. Ordinarily, the narrative would develop each so that the audience could sort through them, thereby heightening the suspense. That doesn't happen here. Instead, much time is given over to two unnecessarily long scenes with the intelligence chief and repeated episodes with the pompous Duclos who's really more annoying than amusing. In fact, the narrative meanders to the extent few suspects are developed, and when the agent is revealed, it's done in highly unsuspenseful, pedestrian fashion. The various parts simply don't gel, and I suspect it's due not only to a muddled adaptation of the Ambler novel, but also to each director having his own preoccupations.

It's also a different James Mason. Not the dark, brooding presence he is so good at. Instead, he's rather sunny and serene, even in tight spots. Frankly, his performance here could have been equaled by a dozen lesser actors and leading men. The movie does have its moments, particularly the seaside setting with the moody resort hotel. That, plus the premise of ten suspects, had me thinking of the 1945 Rene Clair mystery classic And Then There Were None. Unfortunately, the result here likely demonstrates that old adage about too many cooks.