5 Fingers (1952)

During WWII the valet to the British Ambassador to Ankara sells British secrets to the Germans while trying to romance a refugee Polish countess.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

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

Stars:

James Mason, Danielle Darrieux, Michael Rennie

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Mason	...	Ulysses Diello
Danielle Darrieux	...	Countess Anna Staviska
Michael Rennie	...	Colin Travers
Walter Hampden	...	Sir Frederic Taylor
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

Storyline

Based on a true story. In neutral Turkey during WWII, the ambitious and extremely efficient valet for the British ambassador tires of being a servant and forms a plan to promote himself to rich gentleman of leisure. His employer has many secret documents; he will photograph them, and with the help of a refugee Countess, sell them to the Nazis. When he makes a certain amount of money, he will retire to South America with the Countess as his wife.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | countess | british ambassador | valet | ambassador | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Portuguese Turkish

Release Date:

7 March 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Operation Cicero

Filming Locations:

Yeni Cami Square, Eminönü, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship visa # 36107 delivered on 27-5-1952, renewed on 9-6-1966.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Ulysses Diello: [to Moyzisch] Spies are notoriously poor businessmen. Most of them are professional patriots, frustrated liberals or victims of blackmail. And in all such cases the emotional involvement weakens their bargaining position and destroys sound business judgements.

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Crazy Credits

Before the movie title: This is a true story. All the exterior scenes in this picture were filmed in the locales associated with the story.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Ride of the Valkyries
(uncredited)
Composed by Richard Wagner

User Reviews

Excellent all around

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.