Diplomatic Courier (1952)

Department of State courier Mike Kelly ends up in postwar hotbed Trieste after failing to collect a package from a colleague. The Military Police are happy for him to get more involved, but... See full summary »

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Casey Robinson (screen play), Liam O'Brien (screen play),

Stars:

Tyrone Power, Patricia Neal, Stephen McNally

Cast

Cast overview:
Tyrone Power	...	Mike Kells
Patricia Neal	...	Joan Ross
Stephen McNally	...	Col. Mark Cagle
Hildegard Knef	...	Janine Betki (as Hildegarde Neff)
Karl Malden	...	Sgt. Ernie Guelvada
James Millican	...	Sam F. Carew
Stefan Schnabel	...	Rasumny Platov
Herbert Berghof	...	Arnov
Arthur Blake	...	Max Ralli
Helene Stanley	...	Airline Stewardess

Storyline

Department of State courier Mike Kelly ends up in postwar hotbed Trieste after failing to collect a package from a colleague. The Military Police are happy for him to get more involved, but things get a bit tough. After all, he is just a postman.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | train | trieste italy | spy | cold war | 

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Taglines:

No. 1 target for 1,000 enemy agents... from Paris - to Salzburg - to Trieste!

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kurier nach Triest

Filming Locations:

Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Near the opening, we see the switchboard in the state department, with labels over the various patch-cord inputs. One of them is labeled "MANILLA" rather than "Manila."

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Quotes

Mike Kells: [to Janine] Oh no, no, no! I've been to your apartment. I don't like what happens there. Like getting slugged.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Remembers Lee Marvin (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Again"
(uncredited)
Music by Lionel Newman
Played during the Bette Davis impersonation

User Reviews

Aged, But Still Good in 2004

In the Cold War, Mike Kells (Tyrone Power) is a courier, who has the mission to meet his friend Sam Carew (James Millican) in a train in Europe and bring some documents back to Washington. However, Sam is killed in the train, and Mike finds a hint in his pocket, indicating he should go to Trieste to find Janine (Hildegard Knef), the last contact of Sam before he dies. Meanwhile, Joan Ross (Patricia Neal), an American widow that Mike met in the plane, shows a great interest in Mike. Mike does not know, but he is used by American government as a bait. This movie has aged a lot, by remains very attractive. The story, full of plot points, is still very good. In Brazil, it is only available on cable television. The DVD and the VHS have not been released. My vote is seven

Title (Brazil): `Missão Perigosa em Trieste' (`Dangerous Mission in Trieste')