Ministry of Fear (1944)

Stephen Neale has just been released from an asylum during World War II in England when he accidentally stumbles onto a deadly Nazi spy plot, and tries to stop it.

Director:

Fritz Lang

Writers:

Seton I. Miller (screenplay), Graham Greene (novel)

Stars:

Ray Milland, Marjorie Reynolds, Carl Esmond

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray Milland	...	Stephen Neale
Marjorie Reynolds	...	Carla Hilfe
Carl Esmond	...	Willi Hilfe
Hillary Brooke	...	Mrs. Bellane #2
Percy Waram	...	Inspector Prentice
Dan Duryea	...	Cost / Travers the Tailor
Alan Napier	...	Dr. JM Forrester
Erskine Sanford	...	George Rennit

Storyline

Stephen Neale is released into WWII England after two years in an asylum, but it doesn't seem so sane outside either. On his way back to London to rejoin civilization, he stumbles across a murderous spy ring and doesn't quite know who to turn to.

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Plot Keywords:

train | bomb | conspiracy | on the run | spy | 

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Taglines:

THEIR STRANGE STORY...A MASTERPIECE OF SUSPENSE! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Arcadia Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - August 13, 1946 - all caps)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paramount paid Graham Greene £10,000 for the film rights to his novel, money he was very glad to have in wartime England. However, he was very disappointed in the film, especially as it had been directed by Fritz Lang, a film-maker he especially admired. Years later, Greene briefly met Lang, and the director made a point of apologizing to him for the film, by which Greene was touched.

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Goofs

The amount of rain on Milland's overcoat changes in the tailor shop between the long takes and the close-ups.

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Quotes

Willi Hilfe: We thought you'd been killed.
Stephen Neale: Not quite.

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Connections

Version of Quinta colonna (1966)

User Reviews

Thrilling WW II suspense yarn

Ray Milland is brilliant in this story of a man whose troubles just begin when he is released from an asylum. The suspense is so thick it can be cut with a knife and the supporting cast is excellent in this innocent-man-caught-up-in-espionage classic. The photographic shadings are also just right. And remember, the cake is made with real eggs.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 February 1945 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Ministry of Fear

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1