Customer Reviews

5 Fingers

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4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

Rather astonishingly, "5 Fingers" is based on a true story of WWII espionage in Turkey. In the British consulate in Ankara, an enigmatic spy is selling confidential information to the Germans. James Mason plays Ulysses Diello, a practically perfect manservant who dreams of a better life. He plots to become a 'gentleman' via his spying and teams up with an impoverished Polish Countess (Danielle Darrieux). Buckle your seatbelts, because it's going to be a bumpy night!

Mason's suave British demeanor has never been used to such perfect effect. He's spectacular as the pragmatic spy, who is given the codename "Cicero." Danielle Darrieux is nearly as good in her role, as are the supporting cast. The film is as enjoyable and well-made a spy flick as you're likely to ever see. The Oscar nominated script is filled with sharp writing, unforeseen plot twists, and some genuine laughs. Joseph L. Mankiewicz ("All About Eve") directed and received an Oscar nomination -- it's among his very best work. Why this movie is not better known is a mystery. "5 Fingers" has every element of a true classic -- most highly recommended.

Trivia: The movie was made into a short lived 1955 TV series ("Operation Cicero"), with Ricardo Montalban in the Mason role!

Picture the results of the Normandy invasion if the Germans had known in advance that the Second Front would take place there in early June. It turns out they did know...and they didn't believe the information was true. Note that elements of the plot are discussed.

Ulysses Diallo (James Mason) is the valet to the British ambassador to neutral Turkey in 1944. He has perfect manners. He is invaluable to the ambassador. He is trusted. Diallo was born in Albania but came to England at an early age. Determined to become an English gentlemen, he decided that the best way to learn was to become an English gentleman's gentleman. "I may not be a gentleman yet," he tells Countess Anna Staviska (Danielle Darrieux) one evening after she slaps his face, "but I am the best gentleman's gentleman." The Countess has lost her husband and her wealth in the war, and now is an increasingly poor but highly attractive woman who is willing to serve the Germans or the English for money. In Ankara, full of intrigue and agents, there are always opportunities. Diallo had also, at one time, been gentleman's gentleman to her husband.

Diallo decides he can make very large sums of money by photographing secret documents the Ambassador keeps in the embassy safe, to which Diallo has access, and giving them to the Germans. He will insist on being paid in English pounds sterling. He estimates over a period of a few weeks he'll have enough funds to live the life of a gentleman in Rio de Janeiro. He recruits the countess to help him, to be his banker, in exchange for funds he will pay her. And as the days go by, their arrangement extends to her bed. The German's pay, but they aren't sure of the man they have code named Cicero. The information appears to be too good to be true. They suspect a British trick.

The British now begin to suspect there is a leak in the embassy. They send a man from London to find out. Things get dicey, but Diallo makes one last theft and is almost caught by the British. After turning over the photographs and getting his money, he also barely escapes from German agents who now want him, too. What was his last batch of documents he photographed and turned over to the Germans? Specific information on Normandy. The information was so big and came from a source so unlikely -- a valet -- that the Germans didn't believe it and took no action. This is a true story.

As for Diallo, well, he didn't care whether the Germans believed him or not, as long as they paid. He didn't even care what the documents contained as long as they were stamped Top Secret. But at the end of the movie, dining in his dinner jacket on the terrace of his sumptuous Rio villa, served by a discrete gentleman's gentleman of his own, he is visited by his banker and a senior Brazilian police officer. Diallo had already learned that it wasn't wise to trust the Countess. Now he is about to he learn he shouldn't have trusted the Germans.

Espionage may be the name of the game here, but the movie is really a black comedy of exquisite manners. No one could read a line of dialogue with the mixture of cool contempt and self amusement the way James Mason could. He is utterly self possessed. Even when he is taken off guard, as the Countess manages to do, he recovers quickly with a shrug. Mason's Diallo is a complete mercenary, so amused by life that he becomes a captivating villain. Danielle Darrieux almost matches him in the Countess' determination to reach her former social position. They make a fine, selfish, wary couple.

Joseph Mankiewicz directed the movie. The screenplay is credited to Michael Wilson, although IMDb lists Mankiewicz as an uncredited screenwriter. The dialogue is full of Mankiewicz-style amused cynicism. The movie is available in VHS as well as a Region 2 DVD. The DVD looks just fine. There are no extras. The time is long overdue for this movie to appear in a Region 1 DVD.

Five Fingers is a documentary style recounting of a true story involving espionage in neutral WWII Turkey.

The refined and impeccably spoken James Mason plays the traitorous Ulysses Diello, personal valet for the British ambassador to Turkey. Code named Cicero, Mason photographs precious wartime secrets pilfered from the ambassador's safe and sells them to the Nazis. Mason coaxes the exotic Danielle Darrieux playing the now penniless Polish Countess Staviska, wife of his previous employer, to partake in his ruthless ploy.
Insatiable in their desire for money, both Mason and Darrieux betray their friends and countries to the Gestapo.

Joseph Mankiewicz does a creditable job directing this reprehensible tale based on the book by L.C. Moyzisch, a member of the German consulate and bit player in this drama.

The only question raised by this superb spy story is why it is called "5 Fingers". The title seems to have nothing to do with the story: perhaps I missed something. It is a supremely well-directed, well-written, well-acted, well-shot movie, as one might expect from the director of "All About Eve". Taut, convincing, suspenseful, gripping and humorous. James Mason was never better cast, or delivered better --- or more astonishingly valuable --- goods. There is a delicious class edge to the interplay between him, as a gentleman's gentleman, and his nemesis, Countess Danielle Darrieux. The introduction to the film heavily stresses the absolute truth of the details of this espionage caper set in Turkey in WWII, in the period shortly preceding D-Day, 1944. This seems incredible, but even if the facts have been embroidered, it is still a riveting piece of film-making. The ending is brilliant. Yes, indeed, why isn't it better known?

The film is excellent, but the Korean DVD is not. Horrid transfer, with blocked up blacks, washed out whites and overall soft image. Don't waste your money as I did. Why 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment hasn't yet released this offically is a mystery, but I recommend writing to them and waiting.

Pardon the awkward pun but "5 Fingers" is a first rate cloak and dagger tale set in Ankara, Turkey during WW2. James Mason is a valet to the British ambassador. Coldly and chillingly self- assured, he decides to make a fortune by stealing war secrets and selling them to a contact at the German embassy. All goes well until "someone" gets suspicious and the film jumps into high gear. "5F" is the type of film where it is quintessentially necessary for a reviewer to not even HINT at the ending. Any plot details must end here. This reviewer can report that the movie's settings are top notch. Documentary backgrounds were shot in Istanbul, Ankara and Berlin to generate realism and solid effect. The supporting cast is excellent, especially those playing the Germans. Michael Rennie, one of the "suspicious" folks, is the only "name" among them. All support Mr. Mason who carries "5F" virtually single-handed. Mason has that certain evil charm to play the semi-likeable villain. (One wonders if people are so cool under fire in real life!) The producers had the foresight to shoot "5F"in black and white. This movie in the "High Noon", "Psycho" and "Casablanca" tradition, should not be colorized. I've read reviews stating that "5F" is too long but this reviewer disagrees. It runs under 2 hours and anyone into suspense, detective or secret agent tales should NOT become restless. Most seem to agree that "5F" was based on a real life incident. If so, there must have been some very stupid, very brave and very treacherous people in Europe during the Big One.

James Mason at it again? Has anyone ever seen Mr. Mason give even a mediocre performance? I have not!

Here he plays to the hilt an agent selling secrets from embassy safes. Mason cooly imbibes his character and is really superb in this kind of part.

Michael Rennie trys to track him down and Danielle Darreaux lures him into trap of her own designs. Wether playing Rommel( The Desert Fox) and Irish rebel ( Odd Man Out) or even the very difficult to find ( The Man Between) Mason is always good to watch.

This Korean import is a good quality DVD. Sound and picture quality are fine. The opening credits could use a little motion control adjustment, but once the credits are past, you don't really notice a problem. An excellent spy story, with a couple of great twists.

For many years I confused this movie with "Five Fingers of Cairo." What a mistake.This is the real deal. Adapted from a thin novel by the real diplomat, L.C. Moyzisch,"Operation Cicero." In a little over 200 pages, it tells the wartime happenings in Ankara, Turkey, from the point of view of a clerical staff officer. Straightforward, it is an extraordinarily true account of a clandestine thief.The movie is suspenseful,true to the source material,expertly acted by James Mason and magnificently filmed. The last 5 minutes have influenced dozens of other films and have never been duplicated in heart-stopping drama.Of WWII spy capers, this is the finest cabernet on the shelf.

This movie ranks tops in the Spy genre and, in my opinion, James Mason's performance here is his very best in a long career of great performances. But painfully, neither this DVD nor its listed clone come anywhere close to a decent product. The transfer is bad all around, with the worst part being a headache-causing jerky film speed. My advice: keep your VHS copy until 20th Century Fox, USA, comes out with a restored DVD version.