Top Secret (1952 film)

Last updated

Top Secret
"Top Secret" (1952).jpg
Directed by Mario Zampi
Written by Jack Davies
Michael Pertwee
Story byJack Davies
Michael Pertwee
Produced byMario Zampi
Starring George Cole
Oskar Homolka
Nadia Gray
Cinematography Stanley Pavey
Edited byGiulio Zampi
Music by Stanley Black
Production
companies
Distributed by Associated British-Pathé
Release date
  • 19 November 1952 (1952-11-19)(London)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office£133,313 (UK) [1]

Top Secret (U.S. title: Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow [2] ; also known as Laughter behind the Curtain [3] ) is a 1952 British black and white comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and starring George Cole, Oskar Homolka and Nadia Gray. [3] [4] It was written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee. A sanitation inspector is mistaken for an international spy.

Contents

Plot

George Potts, a plumber in a top secret government research plant, accidentally comes into possession of the plans for a revolutionary atomic weapon. As George leaves for his annual holiday, the research security team embarks on a nationwide search for the hapless 'sanitary engineer'. Meanwhile, the Russians get wind of the incident and intercept George, plying him with liquor and employment promises so that he'll hand over the plans to them. All the while, George never knows what the fuss is about: he thinks that the British and Soviet authorities are interested in his new plans for a modern ballcock system he is carrying. The Russians offer him a job in the Kremlin doing research (on plumbing, he believes), and steal his ballcock plans.

They put George in prison and interrogate him, using a truth drug, but although he tells them truthfully that he hid the plans in the lining of Tania's coat, they have disappeared, because they are in Zekov's coat lining.

While there he falls in love with secret agent Tania, and discovers the true nature of the plans he is carrying. [5] [6]

George organises a flight to East Berlin where Zekov is waiting, unaware that he is carrying the plans.

Cast

Production

The film was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ivan King.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This heavily facetious little comedy is almost too silly to take seriously; yet one wonders if any good purpose is served by a series of schoolboy jokes directed against the U.S.S.R. There is, in the basic idea (leaving out all the inevitable double-entendres about plumbing and sanitation), perhaps material for a good satire on the level of Ninotchka . But writers and directors offer instead only some old-fashioned farcical situations and childish gibes not based at all on adult political observation. ... As one might expect from the authors of Laughter in Paradise , characterisation and incident stem from the hoariest traditions of British farce, and the technique of the film is theatrical. For a simple entertainment picture there is no great objection to this, but in Top Secret, whether they like it or not, the underlying attitude of the makers places it in the 'cold war' category." [7]

The New York Times noted, "as long as the action stays this side of the Iron Curtain, the production is enjoyable – and understandable – but once entangled with the enigma of Communist rule, the farce ends." [2]

Variety wrote: "Cole, rapidly being typecast for dumb comedy parts, has a made-to-order role. He extracts every bit of humor out of his lines to best advantage. Oscar Homolka fits naturally into the role of the Russian envoy who talks the Englishman into going to Moscow and who is eventually happy to join him on British territory. Nadia Gray is an attractive interpreter who apparently is also relieved to take refuge on British soil. While these three have the plum roles, lesser parts have been filled with thought. Frederick Valk, Geoffrey Sumner and Wilfrid Hyde-White make standout contributions. Stanley Pavey has done a smooth lensing job. Giulio Zampi has edited in slick style." [8]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Broad satire with some outstandingly funny moments." [9]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Farcical satire full of chases and lavatory humour; much of it comes off nicely." [10]

Allmovie wrote, "no one takes Top Secret seriously – certainly not Oscar Homolka, who delivers a bravura performance as a Russian secret agent who wistfully yearns for the glories of the Czarist days." [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bottoms Up</i> (1960 film) 1960 British film by Mario Zampi

Bottoms Up is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi, and starring Jimmy Edwards in a spin-off of his TV comedy series Whack-O!, playing the seedy, alcoholic, cane-wielding headmaster of Chiselbury School, a fictional British public school. The screenplay was by Michael Pertwee, with additional dialogue by Frank Muir and Denis Norden.

<i>The Green Man</i> (film) 1956 British comedy film by Robert Day

The Green Man is a 1956 black and white British black comedy film directed by Robert Day and starring Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas and Jill Adams. The screenplay was by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, based on the play Meet a Body.

<i>The Early Bird</i> 1965 British film by Robert Asher

The Early Bird is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman, Bryan Pringle, Richard Vernon, John Le Mesurier and Jerry Desmonde. It was the first Norman Wisdom film to be shot in colour. The title is taken from the expression "the early bird catches the worm".

<i>Too Many Crooks</i> 1959 British film by Mario Zampi

Too Many Crooks is a 1959 British black comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and starring Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Brenda De Banzie, Sidney James, Bernard Bresslaw and Vera Day. It was written by Michael Pertwee and Christiane Rochefort from a story by Jean Nery.

<i>Dry Rot</i> (film) 1956 British film by Maurice Elvey

Dry Rot is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey, and starring Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix, Peggy Mount, and Sid James. The screenplay is by John Chapman, adapted from his 1954 Whitehall farce of the same name.

<i>Inn for Trouble</i> 1960 British film by C. M. Pennington-Richards

Inn for Trouble is a 1960 black and white British comedy film directed by C.M. Pennington-Richards and starring Peggy Mount, David Kossoff and Leslie Phillips. It was a spin-off of the ITV sitcom The Larkins (1958–1964). The film is notable for the final credited appearances of Graham Moffatt and A. E. Matthews.

<i>Five Golden Hours</i> 1961 film by Mario Zampi

Five Golden Hours is a 1961 Italian-British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and starring Ernie Kovacs, Cyd Charisse, George Sanders, Dennis Price and John Le Mesurier. It was written by Hans Wilhelm.

<i>Once a Sinner</i> (1950 film) 1950 British film by Lewis Gilbert

Once a Sinner is a 1950 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Pat Kirkwood, Jack Watling and Joy Shelton. It was written by David Evans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadia Gray</span> Romanian film actress (1923–1994)

Nadia Gray was a Romanian film actress.

<i>Will Any Gentleman...?</i> 1953 British film by Michael Anderson

Will Any Gentleman...?, also known as Reluctant Casanova, is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Michael Anderson and starring George Cole, Veronica Hurst, Heather Thatcher, Jon Pertwee, and William Hartnell. It was written by Vernon Sylvaine based on his 1950 play Will Any Gentleman...?. It was the first of five movies Anderson made for ABPC and was reasonably successful at the box office.

<i>Dont Panic Chaps!</i> 1959 British film

Don't Panic Chaps! is a 1959 British comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Dennis Price, George Cole, Thorley Walters and Terence Alexander. The film was written by Michael Corston, Jack Davies and Ronald Holroyd, and produced by Teddy Baird for ACT Films. Originally called Carry On Chaps, the title was changed following the success of the Carry On series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Zampi</span> Italian film producer and director (1903–1963)

Mario Zampi was an Italian film producer and director. A co-founder of Two Cities Films, a British production company, he is most closely associated with British comedies of the 1950s. He later formed his own film production companies, Anglofilm and Mario Zampi Productions.

<i>Folly to Be Wise</i> 1952 film by Frank Launder

Folly to Be Wise is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder and starring Alastair Sim, Elizabeth Allan, Roland Culver, Colin Gordon, Martita Hunt and Edward Chapman. It was written by James Bridie, John Dighton and Launder based on Bridie's play It Depends What You Mean. The film follows the efforts of a British Army chaplain attempting to recruit entertainment acts to perform for the troops and the complications that ensue when he does. The title is taken from the line by Thomas Gray "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise".

<i>Who Goes There!</i> 1952 British film

Who Goes There! I is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Nigel Patrick, Valerie Hobson and George Cole. It was written by John Dighton based on his 1950 play Who Goes There!. The film depicts the farcical activities of the various inhabitants of a grace and favour house near St James's Palace in Central London.

<i>Broth of a Boy</i> 1959 Irish film

Broth of a Boy is a 1959 Irish comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Barry Fitzgerald, Harry Brogan and June Thorburn. It was written by Blanaid Irvine and Patrick Kirwan adapted from the 1956 play The Big Birthday by Hugh Leonard.

<i>The Gangs All Here</i> (1939 film) 1939 British film

The Gang's All Here is a 1939 British black-and-white comedy-mystery, directed by Thornton Freeland and starring Jack Buchanan and Googie Withers. It was produced by Associated British Picture Corporation and released in the U.S. in 1943 as The Amazing Mr. Forrest.

<i>Now and Forever</i> (1956 film) 1956 British film by Mario Zampi

Now and Forever is a 1956 British drama film directed by Mario Zampi and starring Janette Scott, Vernon Gray and Kay Walsh. It was written by R.F. Delderfield and Michael Pertwee based on the 1953 play The Orchard Walls by R.F. Delderfield, and was Scott's first adult role after a career as a child star in Britain. The screenplay concerns an upper-class girl who becomes romantically involved with a garage mechanic, and they head for Gretna Green to elope.

<i>Alias John Preston</i> 1955 British film by David MacDonald

Alias John Preston is a 1955 British 'B' thriller film directed by David MacDonald and starring Christopher Lee, Betta St. John and Alexander Knox. A mysterious and wealthy man moves to a small village where he outwardly appears to be a friendly figure but nurses a dangerous secret.

<i>Night Without Stars</i> 1951 British film by Anthony Pelissier

Night Without Stars is a 1951 British black-and-white dramatic thriller film directed by Anthony Pelissier and starring David Farrar, Nadia Gray and Maurice Teynac. The screenplay was by Winston Graham based on his 1950 novel of the same name. The film was produced by Hugh Stewart.

<i>Come Back Peter</i> (1952 film) 1952 British film by Charles Saunders

Come Back Peter is a 1952 second feature British comedy film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Patrick Holt, Peter Hammond and Humphrey Lestocq. It was written by Saunders based on the play Come Back Peter by A. P. Dearsley. It was an independent picture by Charles Reynolds Productions.

References

  1. ↑ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p499
  2. 1 2 O. A. G. (3 September 1953). "Movie Review - Mr Potts Goes to Moscow - 'Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow,' an Import". The New York Times . Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Top Secret". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | TOP SECRET (1952)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow (1952)". Allmovie. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Top Secret (1952) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Top Secret" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 19 (216): 168. 1 January 1952 – via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ "Top Secret" . Variety . 189 (1): 6. 10 December 1952 – via ProQuest.
  9. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 391. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  10. ↑ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 1042. ISBN   0586088946.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.