Staatsgeheimnis (1950)

Staatsgeheimnis: Directed by Sidney Gilliat. With Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glynis Johns, Jack Hawkins, Walter Rilla. In post-WW2 Europe, when the dictator of a small police state dies during surgery, the operating surgeon, who’s a visiting American doctor, is held captive in order to preserve the terrible state secret.

“I viewed this film at Cinevent in Columbus, Ohio on Memorial Day weekend, 2001. It is one of Fairbanksu0026#39;s best performances. He is believable as an American physician brought to a eastern European nation under false pretenses. When his patient, the current dictator, dies he is slated to be killed as part of the coverup. He escapes with the unwilling aid of a cabaret singer (Glynis Johns), a stranger who is the only person he can find that speaks English. The story is told in flashback and contains some highly tense moments of an escape over high mountains and a bit of comic relief provided by Herbert Lom. First rate! I hope this film can be released on video or seen on television. It shouldnu0026#39;t be missed.”