Almost insurmountable barrier
State Secret casts Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, as an American doctor practicing in London who goes on a goodwill tour behind the Iron Curtain to demonstrate a ewsurgical technique.
Fairbanks is wined and dined and feted and then performs the operation and bad for
him that he recognizes his patient is the country's dictator.
The secret police in the person of Jack Hawkins try to hold him, but Fairbanks
escapes in possession of one of the biggest State Secrets out there. The rest
of the film is Fairbanks and his efforts to flee the country.
Fairbanks gives a wonderful portrayal of a trapped man. Not knowing the language is a frightful and almost insurmountable barrier. A meting with
Glynis John who is an entertainer who speaks English because her mother
was from the United Kingdom is a godsend. Their scenes together as Fairbanks tries to persuade Glynis to help are special.
The atmosphere shown of the omnipresent state is the best thing about
State Secret. Another special performance is that of Herbert Lom as a fixer who
will help if it suits him for a price.
State Secret is one excellent Cold War drama/
score 7/10
bkoganbing 24 December 2020
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6395177/35033
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