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5 Fingers (1952)

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21 comments in total

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16 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Witty, Suspenseful & Well-Acted!, 4 March 1999

Author: (kobsidian@home.com) from Toronto, Ontario

I'd never heard of this film when I tuned in to the History channel of all places, hoping for a diversion. I was immediately caught up in this suspenseful and well-acted TRUE STORY of how and why the Nazis obtained advance knowledge of the D-Day invasion, but made no use of it. Some of the most implausible aspects of this fictionalized account - the delicious surprise twist at the end - are TRUE! One of my film guides informed me that "5 Fingers" won the '53 Golden Globe for its excellent screenplay. The highlights of the witty script include the interplay of James Mason, as the suave valet I couldn't help rooting for, and Danielle Darrieux, as the penniless yet glamourously seductive Countess Staviska. The acting of these two is top-notch; the supporting cast is consistently strong, and the Turkish location shooting gives it body. And the direction, by Joseph Mankiewicz is solid. This is a film about which you will ask, as I did: "Why Haven't I Heard of THIS one Before!?!"

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18 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
James Mason and sadistic Pre-Connery elegant scoundrels, 22 August 2001

Author: aw-komon-2 from Redondo Beach, CA

This is one of the best roles of James Mason's career, and it's a long, distinguished one indeed, with more than its share of underrated masterpieces (Michael Powell's "Age of Consent") and overrated mediocrities (Carol Reed's "Odd Man Out) for film fans to dig through. This role is perfect for Mason because no one is better than he at playing elegant scoundrels that you can't help but admire for their craftiness. You root for this spy to double cross everybody all the way even though it might mean the allies losing WWII, etc. And the ending is wonderfully ambiguous and evily hilarious with Mason laughing his head off and not caring that he's personally in a very tight spot but thoroughly amused that the "Contessa" who tried to double-cross him had 'gotten hers.' One of the best written and acted American films of the '50s.

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18 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
excellent, definitely underrated, 6 December 2002

Author: charley-8 from florida

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.

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11 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Our man in Rio!, 24 May 2005

Author: jotix100 from New York

This forgotten film brilliantly directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz is one of the best spy films we have seen in recent memory. The film holds the viewer in suspense up the last frame. Mr. Mankiewicz was working on the fine screen play written by Michael Wilson, based on a real incident told by L. C. Moyzisch, a German officer who is a key player in the story.

The film opens in Ankara, Turkey's capital during WWII. The place is swarming with spies and intrigues. We are taken to a reception where we encounter Countess Anna, a beautiful woman of uncertain age, who is living below her means in the country. Anna asks for monetary help to a German officer, who she has met before. At this point, we meet Diello, a valet to the English ambassador to Turkey. Diello has a proposal for Moyzisch, a German connected to the embassy. He proposes a deal where he will cooperate in spying for the Germans in exchange of heavy amounts of money.

Since Diello needs a front, Countess Anna, becomes the a desirable object for this man's plans in how to conduct the business. Thus the impoverished countess agrees to the plan. Countess Anna becomes a hostess who gathers in her new elegant surroundings the cream of the diplomatic society. The countess goes along with the scheme, but at the same time, she deeply resents the idea of having Diello, a man that is not from her circle and background, be treated as her equal.

The film works because what we see is what really happened. This being a real story, is not something that came out of some writer's imagination. On the contrary, we are completely astounded in the way this Diello was able to fool his superiors at the embassy. We watch as Diello goes about the business of spying right at the ambassador's office without being caught.

There are two ironic twists to the story that come as complete surprises to us. In a way, because one is not expecting, the first one is the betrayal to Diello by the heartless countess, and the second one is at the conclusion of the film. This last one is something that keeps us laughing along with Diello and in turn to the woman who double crossed him.

James Mason, is excellent as Diello. Mr. Mason was an actor that always delivered. In his English films, as well as some of his Hollywood movies, this actor projected such a powerful figure. His method of working always amazes because his performances always build up to unexpected results. The film belongs to Mr. Mason, who is terrific and charismatic.

Danielle Darrieux, one of the best French film actresses of all times, makes a delightful appearance as Countess Anna. She transforms herself from a the woman trying to eke out a living to the sophisticated lady of a society she felt comfortable with because she was born into it.

The supporting roles are quite good. The surprise was Herbert Berghof, one of the most famous acting teachers of all times making a rare appearance.

"5 Fingers" has a great black and white cinematography by Norman Brodine who captures some of those Turkish locales in all their splendor. The film score by Bernard Herrmann adds another dimension to the film. Thanks to Mr. Mankiewicz, this is a film that will please his admirers.

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Cool, underrated suspense film, 14 July 1999

Author: Rosabel from Ottawa, Canada

Another great performance by James Mason - he is wonderful as the brainy, underestimated valet of the British Ambassador to Turkey who feeds invaluable information to the Nazis for a price. The betrayals and counter-betrayals throughout make this a terrific suspense film. As usual, I find myself hoping that James Mason will get away with his crimes, even in spite of the despicable nature of his treachery and to whom he is betraying his secrets. The ending is satisfying in the most perfect way.

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11 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent film, 23 July 1999
Author: Matthew Ignoffo (mermatt@webtv.net) from Eatontown, NJ, USA

This is one of the great spy films. Mason gives his trademark cool, expert performance as a slippery, suave spy for the Nazis. The story is one of 20th Century Fox's series of documentary-style films based on real events during World War II.

The sense of danger and suspense is well handled, and the conclusion is Shakespearian in irony. This is a minor classic -- minor simply because few people know about it. See it if you get the chance.

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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent all around, 27 August 2001
Author: haristas from USA

This film is far from forgotten. Fans of James Mason and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz know it well. It's one of the most intelligent spy thrillers ever thanks to an Oscar-winning screenplay by Michael Wilson ("Bridge on the River Kwai," "Lawrence of Arabia," and the original "Planet of the Apes"). It also has a score by Bernard Herrmann. What else do you need? Other comments here have told what the plot is, so all I'll say is I envy you if haven't seen it yet and plan to. It's gripping and enjoyable all the way, and wonderfully ironic.

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9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
James Mason Had the Last Laugh!, 29 July 2004

Author: whpratt1 from United States

Greatly enjoyed this 1952 film which was very well produced and the wonderful photography through out Istanbul, Turkey was outstanding. The Nazi agents and British tried to keep tabs on a spy who was giving out very important information and was sometimes not believed by the German Government. James Mason,(Ulysses Diello),"Voyage of the Damned",'76, gave an excellent performance and had lots of fun changing light bulbs and taking fuses out of the fuse boxes and setting alarms off, giving the cleaning lady a hard time trying to vacuum the rugs! Michael Rennie( George Travers),"The Lost World",'60, was a British Agent trying to track down the SPY. Ulysses Diello at one point in the film went into a wild laughing spell that just could not STOP! This is a great James Mason film, ENJOY!

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9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
5 Fingers, 29 March 1999
Author: Tim Cox from Marietta, OH

A brilliant suspense classic headed by the always exciting James Mason, a superb script from Michael Wilson and top notch direction from Joseph Mankeweicz, who received a Best Director nomination for this film, as did Wilson's screenplay.

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7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent, well worth watching., 8 June 2001

Author: byrddawg from Canada

Thanks to the comments here, I watched 5 Fingers and was patient until James Mason appeared. The "accents" of some of the other actors were a bit much for me at first. My patience was rewarded with an excellent film and story. James Mason was wonderful. Highly recommended, especially if you can ignore some of the more dated touches.

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