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 | counterfeit money | neutrality | top secret | countess | 

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Taglines:

Guilty of every sin that had a name!

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ambassador Franz von Papen was a former Chancellor of Germany. After he resigned from office, he worked with the Nazis and helped get Adolf Hitler appointed as Chancellor, and was therefore instrumental in the rise of the Third Reich.

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Goofs

In the Argentinian passports it says: "Numera del Retratio", "FOT TOMADO ET PULGER DERECHO". Should be: "Número del retrato", "FOTOGRAFÍA Y PULGAR DERECHO"

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Quotes

Count Franz Von Papen: You could have counted on our protection.
Countess Anna Staviska: I understand you're protecting all of my estates and possessions in Poland. Who has them?
Count Franz Von Papen: Field Marshall Goering, I believe.
Countess Anna Staviska: Many of our German friends before the War would come as our guests to hunt wild pigs. I refused to invite Goering. I couldn't tolerate Goering killing a wild pig. It seemed too much like brother killing brother.

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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, 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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Portuguese Turkish French

Release Date:

7 March 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Operation Cicero

Filming Locations:

Yeni Cami Square, Eminönü, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$46,317

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