Secret People details
| Format: | PG DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Megs Jenkins, Angela Fouldes, Charles Goldner, Audrey Hepburn, Reginald Tate, Serge Reggiani, Irene Worth, Valentina Cortese |
| Director: | Thorold Dickinson |
| Genre: | Drama - Crime, General, Romantic |
| Studio: | ELEVATION |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Secret People |
PG Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 32 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 18 Jan 2010 |
| Main languages: | English |
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Most helpful review
A great rediscovery
By rififi (25 reviews) from Middlesex , 25 Feb 2010[Highly rated reviewer]
An excellent film. The story sort of bridges the gap between Conrad’s ‘The Secret Agent’ and some of Graham Greene’s works, such as ‘The Ministry of Fear’. We are certainly in Greeneland, a world of émigrés and refugees, of plots, assassinations and secret committees, where you don’t know what’s right or what’s wrong, who to trust and who to betray, and whether violence or non-violence will bring peace and freedom. The writing, acting and filming all have lots of verve and flair. Dickinson must have been one of our best directors, and films like this deserve to be widely seen and permanently available. More please.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(5)Hidden Gem
By FrankIV (506 reviews) from Cirencester, England , 02 Mar 2011This, apparently, disappeared virtually upon release in 1952, presumably considered too downbeat for an audience still in recovery from the war. It's set in 1937 and, as has been said, is atmospherically very close to the work of Grahame Greene and the films based on his novels, particularly 'The Third Man', with some similarity in the cinematography and composition. It is very well made, written and acted, interesting in terms of characterisation, plot and theme. It's also a rare chance to see the young Audrey Hepburn in action before Hollywood discovered her. Well worth the effort.- Was this review helpful to you?
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people with secrets
By itstinks (681 reviews) from North of Reading , 11 Apr 2010How far do you go to fight tyranny ? That is the main crux of this film with a sort of love story attached. Audrey Hepburn looks gorgeous and though elegent in her dancing is not believable as a dancer. Thats the only part fo the film I really enjoyed apart from a few clever camera tricks.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Disappointing for Audrey Hepburn Fans
By a customer from London , 11 Apr 2010If you're thinking about watching this as an Audrey Hepburn fan, think again.
Hepburn's character plays a small part in a film that is on the whole rather dull, predictable and over-dramatic.
Avoid.- Was this review helpful to you?
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No masterpiece
By a customer from Sussex , 27 Mar 2010The film was neither a commercial nor a critical success on its first release - and one can see why. This is not in the same class as 'Gaslight' or 'The Queen of Spades'. The story, by Dickinson himself, covers much of the same ground as Hitchcock's earlier 'Sabotage' but without the suspense, and with the emphasis instead on the moral issues involved. The cast is interesting, if ultimately unable to deliver the emotional impact required, particularly in the case of Valentina Cortesa in the lead as Maria. Serge Reggiani (so good in Becker's 'Casque d'Or') fails to find any depth in the character of Louis. Audrey Hepburn is, of course, charming, but is given little to do except dance, and the great Irene Worth is rather wasted in a minor supporting role.One can only imagine what the film would have been like with say, Valli and Gerard Philippe in the main roles instead of Cortesa and Reggiani.
Clarity is not helped by the squeamishness in not identifying the Fascist regime from which Maria is fleeing as in fact Francoist Spain.- Was this review helpful to you?
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A great rediscovery
By rififi (25 reviews) from Middlesex , 25 Feb 2010An excellent film. The story sort of bridges the gap between Conrad’s ‘The Secret Agent’ and some of Graham Greene’s works, such as ‘The Ministry of Fear’. We are certainly in Greeneland, a world of émigrés and refugees, of plots, assassinations and secret committees, where you don’t know what’s right or what’s wrong, who to trust and who to betray, and whether violence or non-violence will bring peace and freedom. The writing, acting and filming all have lots of verve and flair. Dickinson must have been one of our best directors, and films like this deserve to be widely seen and permanently available. More please.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (5) Yes |
- No (0)
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