Top Secret | |
---|---|
Directed by | Mario Zampi |
Written by | Jack Davies Michael Pertwee |
Story by | Jack Davies Michael Pertwee |
Produced by | Mario Zampi |
Starring | George Cole Oskar Homolka Nadia Gray |
Cinematography | Stanley Pavey |
Edited by | Giulio Zampi |
Music by | Stanley Black |
Production companies | Associated British Picture Corporation Transocean Productions |
Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | £133,313 (UK) [1] |
Top Secret is a 1952 British black and white comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and starring George Cole, Oskar Homolka and Nadia Gray. [2] A sanitation inspector is mistaken for an international spy. It was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ivan King. The film was released in the United States as Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow. [3]
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. [4] [5]
George organises a flight to East Berlin where Zekov is waiting, unaware that he is carrying the plans.
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." [3]
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." [4]
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