24/6/06 THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER #845
[FOX Classics] [John Huston 1963]
Synopsis: George C. Scott plays Anthony Gethryn, who is trying to discover the connections between 10 names, on a piece of paper provided to him by Adrian Messenger. Soon he realises, one by one, that each person listed has died a mysterous death, and it is a race against time to find the murder and the motive.
Opinion: This film quite possibly contains the best cast in a film ever. Consider, George C Scott ('Patton') in the main role, Kirk Douglas ('Lust for Life') in many disguises, Burt Lancaster ('BirdMan of Alcatraz') unrecognisable, so too Robert Mitchum ('The Night of the Hunter') and Frank Sinatra ('Manchurian Candidate'). Throw in also Herbert Marshall ('The Little Foxes') and the directorial skills of John Huston ('Maltese Falcon') and it is pretty hard to top.
Because this film has such a fascinating premise, you can't help but be lured into the story. George C Scott cuts a fine figure and is endearing and intelligent, he manages to show alot of warmth in his character. A good run of films for Scott, whose next scree appears was in Doctor Strangelove (1964)
Kirk Douglas is wonderful in a man of many disguises, which is difficut considering his striking look. But it's when he is out of disguise that he is so compelling to watch, harnessing all his star power to deliver a fine performance. Mitchum, Sinatra and Lancaster are all unreocgnisable behind heavy makeup yet reveal themselves at the end in a delightful postscript to the film.
There are many locations used in this film which intesifies the plot, from hunting grounds, to wharfs to alleys, and the overall film is given a dreary England feel.
Highly recommended murder mystery. 4/5
Film Fact: John Huston, the director, appears as Derek Burttenholm in the final fox hunting sequence.
Film Title: Adrian Messenger (played by John Merivale ' A Night to Remember') possess a list of ten names , of which he is one of them. It is this list, which propels the story of the film.
Synopsis: George C. Scott plays Anthony Gethryn, who is trying to discover the connections between 10 names, on a piece of paper provided to him by Adrian Messenger. Soon he realises, one by one, that each person listed has died a mysterous death, and it is a race against time to find the murder and the motive.
Opinion: This film quite possibly contains the best cast in a film ever. Consider, George C Scott ('Patton') in the main role, Kirk Douglas ('Lust for Life') in many disguises, Burt Lancaster ('BirdMan of Alcatraz') unrecognisable, so too Robert Mitchum ('The Night of the Hunter') and Frank Sinatra ('Manchurian Candidate'). Throw in also Herbert Marshall ('The Little Foxes') and the directorial skills of John Huston ('Maltese Falcon') and it is pretty hard to top.
Because this film has such a fascinating premise, you can't help but be lured into the story. George C Scott cuts a fine figure and is endearing and intelligent, he manages to show alot of warmth in his character. A good run of films for Scott, whose next scree appears was in Doctor Strangelove (1964)
Kirk Douglas is wonderful in a man of many disguises, which is difficut considering his striking look. But it's when he is out of disguise that he is so compelling to watch, harnessing all his star power to deliver a fine performance. Mitchum, Sinatra and Lancaster are all unreocgnisable behind heavy makeup yet reveal themselves at the end in a delightful postscript to the film.
There are many locations used in this film which intesifies the plot, from hunting grounds, to wharfs to alleys, and the overall film is given a dreary England feel.
Highly recommended murder mystery. 4/5
Film Fact: John Huston, the director, appears as Derek Burttenholm in the final fox hunting sequence.
Film Title: Adrian Messenger (played by John Merivale ' A Night to Remember') possess a list of ten names , of which he is one of them. It is this list, which propels the story of the film.
posted by Rhett (rhettrospective@hotmail.com) at 7:15 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home