5 Fingers (1952)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

L.C. Moyzisch (book)
Michael Wilson (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 February 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

5 FINGERS...BEHIND THEM THE FABULOUS TRUE EXPLOITS OF THE HIGHEST PAID SPY IN HISTORY! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Based on a true story. In neutral Turkey during WWII, the ambitious and extremely efficient valet for...

Plot Keywords:

Countess | Nazi | WWII | Valet | Ambassador

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

James Mason	...	Ulysses Diello
Danielle Darrieux	...	Countess Anna Staviska
Michael Rennie	...	Colin Travers
Walter Hampden	...	Sir Frederic
Oskar Karlweis	...	L. C. Moyzisch
Herbert Berghof	...	Col. von Richter
John Wengraf	...	Count Franz Von Papen
Ben Astar	...	Siebert (as A. Ben Astar)
Roger Plowden	...	Keith Macfadden

Also Known As:

Five Fingers

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Portuguese | Turkish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Ankara, Turkey

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The real Cicero was Elyesa Bazna, an Albanian. In his book, "I Was Cicero" he retells the story, listing his collaborators as a chambermaid and his niece. The character of the countess was a Hollywood fabrication.

Goofs:

Continuity: Foam in the Countess' beer while she talks with Count von Papen.

Movie Connections:

Featured in De Bazna à Diello, de la réalité à la fiction (2004) (V)

excellent, definitely underrated

I remember reading the book on which this film is based more than fifty years ago, as well as seeing it when it was first released. I have just viewed it again and want to encourage others to see it. It is well crafted in every respect -- taut direction, superb performances, and a very fine screenplay. This film deserves more recognition.