Dr Ferguson is a brain surgeon, on vacation with his wife in a small Spanish-speaking country. This is actually a dictatorship ruled by tyrant Raoul Farrago. As they leave the country, Dr ... See full summary »
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Dr Ferguson is a brain surgeon, on vacation with his wife in a small Spanish-speaking country. This is actually a dictatorship ruled by tyrant Raoul Farrago. As they leave the country, Dr and Madam are arrested and lead to Farrago. He has a tumor that has to be removed quickly. Ferguson's duty is to cure sick people, but letting Farrago die would be a relief for the people... Written by
Yepok
The original story was about the doctor's daughter getting kidnapped and no wife, but once MGM had Cary Grant cast they insisted on a re-write so that Grant would have a love interest in the film. See more »
I suppose people who are just looking for a vehicle to swoon over Cary Grant will be find this movie dull. Not that he's not '"swoonable" in this. He's great! But this film has to be viewed as a serious drama that attempts for the first time in Hollywood (!) to look at the issues of a Third World country. It's the first time! Hollywood was still making safe, 'nice' movies, and was heavily in the horror and insanity of McCarthyism. That a film like this could be made at all, is amazing. This is a pretty 'small' film, shot mostly on soundstages with a little known supporting cast. But that cast is great, especially Jose Ferrer, who really gives one of his very best screen performances. The score is excellent, the tension is well-paced, and the script... well, it may seem dated today, but considering how many people didn't know (and still don't know!) what's happening in other parts of the world, it packs a lot of information in usually, a very eloquent way. And you just gotta love the idea of the dictator watching his surgeon rehearsing the surgery that might possibly take his life! For it's time, this is a remarkable film. Today, it is less so, but still is very worthwhile entertainment.
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I suppose people who are just looking for a vehicle to swoon over Cary Grant will be find this movie dull. Not that he's not '"swoonable" in this. He's great! But this film has to be viewed as a serious drama that attempts for the first time in Hollywood (!) to look at the issues of a Third World country. It's the first time! Hollywood was still making safe, 'nice' movies, and was heavily in the horror and insanity of McCarthyism. That a film like this could be made at all, is amazing. This is a pretty 'small' film, shot mostly on soundstages with a little known supporting cast. But that cast is great, especially Jose Ferrer, who really gives one of his very best screen performances. The score is excellent, the tension is well-paced, and the script... well, it may seem dated today, but considering how many people didn't know (and still don't know!) what's happening in other parts of the world, it packs a lot of information in usually, a very eloquent way. And you just gotta love the idea of the dictator watching his surgeon rehearsing the surgery that might possibly take his life! For it's time, this is a remarkable film. Today, it is less so, but still is very worthwhile entertainment.