Secret Mission

It's fun to see Michael Wilding playing a light-hearted role for a change, and with an on-form Hugh Williams, we are treated to quite an enjoyable wartime espionage thriller. Stewart Granger pops up as the captain of the ship that takes them (and James Mason) to France where they must work with the Resistance to get hold of some secret Nazi logistical deployments. When I say thriller, I really mean light comedy - the pace and the styles of acting are relaxed, there is absolutely no peril at all, and the ending - though slightly more action-packed than the rest of it - is a bit of a formality with explosions. What does work is the chemistry between the gents, and between Williams and Carla Lehmann ("Michèle") who introduces just the slightest hint of jeopardy. Herbert Lom and Karel Stepanek also chip in, adding some panache to the lightweight story and though it's borderline propaganda, to be honest, and a quarter of an hour too long, it's still an amiable outing for some decent talent.