
“... to have ... hold or HATE!”
A US newsman and a British entomologist spy on germ-warfare research in a mythical country.
Release Date: 12/6/1950
Runtime: 90 minutes
Languages: English
Director: Roy Ward Baker
00Companies: Two Cities Films, J. Arthur Rank Organisation
Countries: United Kingdom
CinemaSerf
Margaret Lockwood is a scientist ("Frances Gray") who is asked by the British government to travel to the Balkans to discovers whether the communists there are trying to weaponise the humble fruit fly! Initially nervous, she takes courage from a radio serial that she listens to for her young nephew, and is soon embroiled in some espionage shenanigans with American journalist "Casey" (Dane Clark) as they try to get hold of one of these critters to return to the UK for evaluation. Local commandant "Razinski" (Marius Goring) cottons on quite quickly that something is afoot, but can the two complete their mission before he puts them up against a wall? Clark is a bit weak, here - but Lockwood and Goring work well together to make for quite an enthralling cat and mouse adventure that is peppered with some humour and a gentle swipe at red tape at the end. A few characterful contributions from Naunton Wayne and Wilfred Hyde-White help it along too. The production is a bit cheap and cheerful, and it plays a little to cold war politics, but I still quite enjoyed it.

Margaret Lockwood
Frances Gray

Dane Clark
Bill Casey

Marius Goring
Commandant Anton Razinski

Naunton Wayne
Mr. Hedgerley

Wilfrid Hyde-White
Mr. Luke

Eugene Deckers
Alf

Olaf Pooley
Detective-Interrogator

Gladys Henson
Attendant

Paul Hardtmuth
Priest

Michael Hordern
Lab Director Owens

George Benson
Sandwich Stand Customer

Eric Pohlmann
Joe - the bartender
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