There's a lot to like in this spy adventure, but it is overwhelmed completely by innumerable examples of silliness in the plot, inexplicable coincidences, and hammy acting in the supporting roles. Actually, all the performances are fine, with the exception of Stephen McNally and Karl Malden as an intelligence officer and his sergeant. Malden, normally a superb actor, seems here to have been wired to a car battery, so amped up is his portrayal. Though his character is a normal enough fellow, Malden plays him at fever pitch and volume. Tyrone Power is very good as the courier over his head in international intrigue, and Patricia Neal and Hildegarde Knef are excellent as women who may or may not be what they seem. But the plot contrivances erase what believability the story might have had, with good guys and bad guys both showing up just when it's convenient for them to do so, realism notwithstanding. The print I saw, too, suggests that at least one scene was edited out before release, as Power's casual departure to the airport early in the film dissolves into the middle of a completely unexplained chase sequence. Another interesting note is some actually rather well-done special effects shots, particularly when Power narrowly misses being run down by a car which does run down someone else. It's clear on reexamination that neither Power nor the other actor was filmed at the same time as the car, but the effect is rather startlingly well done for 1952. It does appear, too, that none of the principal actors actually filmed in Trieste, as almost all of their scenes there seem to have been done with either rear projection or doubles. Tyrone Power completists will want to see this, as will those collecting bit roles by Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson, but otherwise this is almost a waste of time, despite some real promise.
Review of Diplomatic Courier
