The Assassin (1952)

Travelling to Venice to locate an ex-partisan, in behalf of a French insurance company, a British private detective gets mixed-up in a political assassination conspiracy.

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers:

Victor Canning (novel), Victor Canning (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Todd, Eva Bartok, John Gregson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Todd	...	Edward Mercer
Eva Bartok	...	Adriana Medova
John Gregson	...	Renzo Uccello
George Coulouris	...	Chief of Police Spadoni
Margot Grahame	...	Rosa Melitus
Walter Rilla	...	Count Boria
John Bailey	...	Lt. Longo
Sidney James	...	Bernardo
Martin Boddey	...	Gufo
Michael Balfour	...	Moretto
Sydney Tafler	...	Boldesca
Miles Malleson	...	Grespi
Eric Pohlmann	...	Gostini
David Hurst	...	Minelli
Raymond Young	...	Luigi

Storyline

Private detective Edward Mercer goes to Venice at the request of a French insurance company to locate a brave Italian whom they wish to reward for his part in the rescue of an Allied airman shot down during the war. At least, that is what Mercer thinks as he steps off the steamer at the Piazza San Marco and is greeted by a smiling street photographer, Cassana. Mercer makes his way to a shop and finds his first contact dead from a knife stab, and the trail leads him to Adrianna. He faces danger from police chief Spaloni and also from a group of foreign patriots, led by Count Borian and Lieutenant Longo, who want to use him as a stool-pigeon for a planned Coup d'Etat. A hectic race across the roof tops, high above the great square, brings Mercer to grips against his unknown enemy.

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Plot Keywords:

1950s | political assassination | sniper rifle | tailing someone | canal | 

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Taglines:

Suspense races through Venice!

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Miles Malleson playing Grespi is dubbed.

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Quotes

Rosa Melitus: Survival is often a simple matter of being able to change your habits at the right moment.

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Soundtracks

Time Was Standing Still
(uncredited)
Music by Nino Rota
Lyrics by Ferrante Alvaro De Torres
English Lyrics by Harold Purcell

User Reviews

A Venice for tourists

Another British Noir, with the same faults that seem to have afflicted this genre: dislocation of culture and customs in a foreign country. Dennis Price was lost in Alpine Italy, now Richard Todd is just as lost in Venice. I can't take the plot seriously, as I suspect few could when the film was first released. There are some attractive interiors (sets built at Pinewood), and a terrific ending with a chase over the roofs around St Mark's. I should compliment the director Ralph Thomas for this chase sequence; I didn't expect it from the director of the endless series of Doctor films.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

22 April 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Assassin

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Film-Makers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1