Necrotongue

I might have been a bit generous with my rating, but honestly, the story really pulled me in. This isn’t one of those slow, black-and-white, intimate dramas—it’s a full-blown crime thriller. At first, I was worried they’d expect me to sympathize with the crooks, but that wasn’t the case at all. I actually thought the law would play a bigger role in the story, but the revenge plotline ended up being much more engaging. That said, it wasn’t perfect. The shots of “moving” cars were pretty rough, and some of the emotionally charged scenes didn’t quite hit the mark. And don’t even get me started on that bizarre, almost laughable ending. Still, despite these flaws, I found myself totally engrossed, which doesn’t happen often. / Lesson learned: There’s nothing like mutual trust.

Alright, maybe it doesn’t quite deserve four stars—the obvious fake backdrops in some of the “exterior” scenes were hard to ignore, and the story had its flaws. But honestly, I had a good time watching it, even though I couldn’t bring myself to root for the main “hero.” He could’ve earned some points with me, but he completely lost them when he didn’t even bother to close that damn fridge. That really ticked me off—what an inconsiderate jerk! The real standout for me was Maggie Smith’s character, Bridget Howard, teetering on the edge of the moral slippery slope. At just 24, she brought a lot of charm to the role. People sometimes tell me there’s no point in watching old films, but this one proves otherwise. Unlike a lot of British black-and-white crime films from that era, this kept me entertained the whole way through, and the ending didn’t disappoint. So, I decided to be a bit more generous with my rating. / Lesson learned: Sometimes a warm prison cell is better than a cold, bleak moor.

In British espionage film from the fifties, it probably wasn't bad, but the fact remains that the film seemed more amusing than suspenseful at certain moments to me. As for me, I must admit that I was never bored for a moment and against all expectations, I actually had quite a good time. The creators managed to move a significant part of the story outdoors, departing from the multitude of largely chamber films that I have seen recently. It was a small, but pleasant refreshment. The Brits did not hesitate to put into action one of the peaks of the technology of that time and it was a joy for me to watch the pilot of this technical marvel, who (unlike his successors from later crime films) sat behind the wheel in a suit and tie, not in a jumpsuit and futuristic helmet. As I have already written above, it was nothing groundbreaking, but I have not experienced disappointment either, so my three out of five stars probably fairly accurately capture my experience of what I just saw. / Lesson: I am sure that I have never seen or experienced a more understanding, tolerant, patient, and therefore fictional woman. No one could bear this wait.