Customer Reviews

Lisbon (1956) [VHS]

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An American smuggler (Ray Milland, who also directed) in Portugal is hired by a professional thief (Claude Rains), who in turn is being paid by a wealthy American woman (Maureen O'Hara) who has a trick or two up her sleeve, to smuggle the woman's elderly husband (Percy Marmont) out from behind the Iron Curtain. This amiable romantic thriller is reminiscent of those Warners exotic international capers that combined romance and action, think CASABLANCA or TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT but, of course, not as good. Still, it's a serviceable late show entry if you don't have high expectations. Rains, in particular, brings an urbane quality to his charming sadist (he kills birds with his tennis racket and feeds them to his cat). The handsome Portugal locations are shot by Jack Marta (CAT BALLOU) though, unfortunately, the transfer I saw was compromised by the wide screen (2.35 aspect ratio) cut down to 1.85. The score by Nelson Riddle incorporates his top 40 hit Lisbon Antigua as part of the underscore. With Yvonne Furneaux (LA DOLCE VITA), Francis Lederer and Jay Novello.

The DVD from Art House Media in Spain is a colorful and vivid transfer but as noted above, the film's original wide screen ratio (2.35) has been cut down to 1.85 which compromises the cinematography. It is not anamorphic.

Bought this movie because I'm a big O'HARA fan. Didn't care for it as MAUREEN was in a thankless role.