While I’m familiar with the name Graham Greene I’ve never
read one of his books. Of his works the only one I’ve ever seen was THE THIRD
MAN for which he wrote the screenplay based on his own novella. So when I took
to watching this movie I was interested to see what I’d make of it.
The story is more romance than spy story though it has
elements of both. It takes place in the mid-fifties in Vietnam, a country
poised on the brink of war and being tugged at both ends by different political
factions. The tale is told through the eyes of British foreign correspondent
Thomas Fowler (Michael Redgrave), a world weary reporter who’s seen it all and
has little hope for peaceful solutions.
Fowler lives in an apartment with his companion Phuong
(Giorgia Moll), a young Vietnamese girl who hopes to accompany him when he
returns home. Fowler has told her that when he does so he will divorce his wife
and the two of them will live together but the reality is that his wife, a devout
Catholic, is unwilling to give him a divorce.
Into their lives enters Alden Pyle (Audie Murphy). Pyle is
unnamed in the movie but named in the book. Pyle supposedly works for an
import/export business in town but in reality is an agent of the CIA. Dedicated
to his job and believing that there is a solution to the problems in the
country, he befriends first Fowler to learn more and then becomes enamored with
Phuong. While Fowler has no real intention of taking Phuong with him, he finds
himself insanely jealous of the attention Pyle shows her.
Parts of this are interesting to watch as the two men
discuss their intentions and Phuong not necessarily as a human being but as something
they can barter over. Both have different beliefs about her, Fowler that she
will just go along with the political climate offered here and Pyle that she
can become an American with a sympathetic lifestyle. Her attitude towards it
all is simple, she just wants to leave the country and go somewhere that has
more opportunity. Eventually the romantic triangle must find a solution.
Just how far Fowler is willing to go to put an end to his
potential rival becomes a big part of the third act of the film. Midway through
the pair find themselves stuck in a watchtower and have time to discuss their
differing political views. Ever the cynic Fowler finds Pyle to be naïve rather
than informed. None of it bodes well for Pyle.
The film was supposed to be an anti-war piece but was
twisted during production. Much of that revolved around the fact that this was
during the blacklist period of Hollywood and the fear was it would be construed
as a pro-Communist film. One thing it did so was predict the difficulties that
would take place in Vietnam in years to follow. While a critical success it wasn’t
a huge hit at the box office.
I think part of the reason for this was the structure of the
film. It plays like a book and at times can be overly wordy. With little action
to be found the movie crawls at a snail’s pace while we wait to see what happens.
Murphy was a star by this time, a decorated WWII hero who was known to play in
westerns. This was a change of pace and it may have confused movie goers at the
time. Still it makes for an interesting look at a topic rarely covered this way
when it comes to Vietnam.
Twilight Time provides the standard great looking picture
with this release but few extras. All you will find here are an isolated music
track with some effects and the theatrical trailer. But if interested make sure
you pick one up before they’re gone as the standard 3,000 copies have been made
for release.
Click here to order.
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