Product Details

• Actors: Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Zachary Scott, Faye Emerson, Victor Francen
• Directors: Jean Negulesco
• Writers: Eric Ambler, Frank Gruber
• Producers: Henry Blanke, Jack L. Warner
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: June 9, 1997
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304525168
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,482 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #12 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Film Noir
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Underrated Noir of European Intrigue, October 1, 2004

By	C. O. DeRiemer (San Antonio, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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This is a satisfying intrigue/murder/noir that by rights should be out on DVD in a restored print. Peter Lorre gets fourth billing, after Sydney Greenstreet, Fay Emerson and Zachary Scott, but he's the star of the show.

The movie is set between the wars and Lorre plays a mystery writer visiting Ankara who, at a party, meets a Turkish police officer who loves mysteries. The officer tells Lorre the story behind a body washed up the day before with a stab wound in its side and papers identifying it as a vicious crook named Dimitrios. Lorre becomes interested and decides to find out more about the fellow. In a series of flashbacks we learn just how bad a guy Dimitrios was: a killer, blackmailer, political assassin, dealer in stolen government secrets, a man who betrayed every man and woman he came into contact with. Lorre visits several people who are willing to talk about Dimitrios, but only when they learn he's dead. He works his way from Istanbul to Paris, and on the journey meets Sydney Greenstreet, another man with secrets who is interested in Dimitrios. It just might be that it wasn't Dimitrios' body that was found, and if that's true then it could get very dangerous for Lorre. As Emerson's character says, "I've known many men, but I've been afraid of only one...Dimitrios."

The movie has a great noir look about it, with lots of shadows, smoky rooms and harsh facial lighting. The movie features a number of Warner's contract character actors whose names you don't recall but whose faces are memorable, Eduardo Ciannelli, Steven Geray, John Abbott, Victor Francen, George Metaxa (a guy I last saw as Fred Astaire's competition for Ginger Rogers in Swingtime).

And best of all, of course, is the pairing of Lorre and Greenstreet. Lorre is great as a naive, sincere writer who can rise to protect a friend. And Greenstreet can be menacing and sympathetic at the same time.

If you like international intrigue with a noir look and a good story, this is worth getting, although I hope it comes out on DVD. You might also like the book by Eric Ambler, A Coffin for Dimitrios.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where Is The Kindness In The World?, August 3, 2002

By	James L. (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The body of Dimitrios Makropoulos washes up on the shore of Istanbul, and his history of crimes is brought to the attention of mystery writer Peter Lorre. Dimitrios was a man without a conscience, always looking to make money at the expense of anyone. Lorre becomes fascinated by his story, and goes on a quest to find out more about the much despised man. The quest takes him across Europe, to such locales as Sofia, Geneva, and Paris. Along the way he gets involved with Sydney Greenstreet, a menacing man who clearly knows more than he is saying, with motives of his own. The story is partly told through a series of flashbacks, as victims of Dimitrios' schemes and backstabbing relate their experiences. This is another example of film noir, with the action taking place at night, in dark spaces. Everyone has questionable motives and characters, each looking out for themselves. Lorre is good in an offbeat role, and it's entertaining to watch him with the always fun Greenstreet - what an odd couple. Zachary Scott is appropriately menacing and nasty as Dimitrios, and Steven Geray is particularly good as one of Dimitrios' unfortunate victims. I did get occasionally confused during the flashbacks, but not enough to detract from the overall film. It quickly establishes a dark, sinister mood, and doesn't let up. This is a forgotten thriller that deserves to be seen.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting character study of an infinitely evil man, March 7, 1999

By A Customer

every time I view this video I see another nuance. It is a character study of a very evil man and the people who hate him(the friends he betrayed). "Revenge is a dish that tastes better cold" Greenstreet,Lorre and Scott are masterful!!! I searched for this video for years before going on-line(book title is slightly different but equally thrilling)