Our Man In Havana Reviews

FINE CAST, FINE FORM

Don't bother renting any new films, re-discover old classics instead.

You can't go wrong with this cast and Greene's writing.

Before the revolution.

A faithful adaptation of Graham Greene's novel which was based on a true story. Guinness is admirably supported by Noel Coward, Burl Ives, Ralph Richardson and especially Ernie Kovacs as a wily police chief.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Fancy a Guinness?

Consumate actor though he was Alec Guinness enjoys, in my view, a somewhat over-inflated reputation. This film provides evidence of both his ability and of his rather irritating theatrical ticks. Guinness plays a Brit running a vacuum cleaner store in Havana who, via a trail of misunderstandings, is considered to be just the right type to carry out spying duties for the paranoid British government. Guinness feeds his masters improbable tidbits in order to keep the expenses rolling in. Based on a Graham Greene novel this ironic tale of politicos and spies is largely (and for me surprisingly) enjoyable.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Not my cup of tea

Apart from a few flashes of wit and humour from Noel Coward, this didn't do it for me at all, but I sat it through only to wonder why I did. I also found Alec Guiness's character strangely unappealing, being hapless but not likable, and with the same moral compass as Homer Simpson, which in this particular film wasn't funny - for me at least.

Our Man in Havana

As Wormold or 'our man in Havana', Alec Guinness is a far cry from the omniscient Smiley he is destined to become. Nevertheless, he is utterly charming and convincing in this fine classic.

Good but ...

and here comes the cliche .... not as good as the book. Sorry, but that's what I think.

faantastic

what a fantastic movie, what more do you want , the location , the actors, I loved every minute of it, one of the best old movies i have ever seen. Highly reccomended.

Good, not great

Our Man in Havana is a great story which evolves brilliantly during the film. Most parts are well cast and Guinness gives an engaging performance as usual. The film is only let down by the less than realistic portrayals of the minor players.

Greene's script contains some wonderfully subtle humour and is a taught as ever. The catholic church and the struggle between good and evil are present, as in his other films.

Worth seeing but not close to Carol Reed and Greene's masterpiece,The Third Man.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A mixed bag of tricks

The trademarks of previous collaborations of director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene in The Fallen Idol (1948) and The Third Man (1949) are found in Our Man in Havana. Yet while Fallen Idol has not achieved the celebrity of Our Man in Havana (1959) it somehow works better by avoiding the clutter of action and motives going on in the latter. And although Our Man in Havana uses many of the brilliant skills Reed deployed so magnificently in The Third Man - and were already in evidence before that in his Odd Man Out (1947) and The Fallen Idol - these skills are not used in 'Havana' with the same sort of conviction. They come across almost like items in Reed's bag of tricks and not giving the film the sort of relentless logic or glorious store of treasures to savour that are found in The Third Man.

Our Man In Havana nevertheless is surely great entertainment, with some delightfully amusing and quirky scenes. It also includes the usual good value from Noel Coward and Ralph Richardson both in the sort of splendid comic form that is routine for them. But there is something wanting in the film as a whole. Thank goodness a bit of human warmth was injected into it in a lovely and touching performance by Burl Ives as the wise Dr Hasselbacher. Alec Guinness in the starring role gives his usual good value as Jim Wormold, whose name speaks for itself, suggesting perhaps a background almost verging on the petty bourgeois. Duncan Macrae and John le Mesurier are among those doing cameos or nice brief turns. The film is not enhanced by the uninteresting role assigned to Maureen O'Hara and by the unremarkable performance of blonde starlet Jo Morrow.

still looks good

Alec Guinness turns in a great performance and the direction is excellent. This is a very easy going Graham Greene book with none of the Catholic guilt. It is an intelligent comedy about the ludicrousness of spying and the cold war.