Very good film. The cinematography is very striking with a similar look to The Third Man, which Reed the year after this.
The script is solid but modern audiences will find it a little slow to get to the crux of scenes.
James Mason is awesome as always. But there’s a few shady Oirish accents in here.
Not a masterpiece or quite as good as The Third Man, but recommended.
7/10
Shout by Tony BatesVIP 2BlockedParent2024-01-15T22:51:22Z
Brilliant opening, with all the directorial flair that Carol Reed would bring to bear in the (superior) Third Man. The heist, getaway, and escape are thrillingly shot, full of canted angles and propulsive editing. It started to falter for me in the second half, as the movie follows Johnny going from house to house looking for refuge. Mason is the most interesting actor in the film, but the movie isn't about his character so much as it is a meditation on others' attitudes and reactions toward him. This is a great idea, but I would have recast the whole thing.