Stephen Neale is released into WWII England after two years in an asylum, but it doesn't seem so sane outside either. On his way back to London to rejoin civilization, he stumbles across a murderous spy ring and doesn't quite know to whom to turn.
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I watched Ministry of fear because to be honest, I was rather curious of it. I knew it was based on a book written by Graham Greene, who also wrote the screenplay for The Third Man,, and it was directed by Fritz Lang (one of my favorite directors). Because I hold both of those people in high standards I expected this to be good. My expectations were nearly met. I found the film to be okay. Not great but it was good enough for a 7 star rating. But watching it, it felt more like an Alfred Hitchcock film, then a Lang film. It felt kind of like The 39 Steps or The Lady Vanishes. That's not bad at all (if anything that's good). But I felt it didn't hold up to either of those nor did it hold up to any of Lang's films. The acting was good, the story was good, but I felt the problem was that it just kind of went a little slow. It's good enough so if you're curious, give it a watch.
"The Ministry of Fear" is one of Graham Greene's most entertaining "entertainments," but it gets only a mildly engaging adaptation in this screen version directed by Fritz Lang.The film probably called out to be directed by Carol Reed, the best man for bringing Greene to the screen ("The Fallen Idol," "The Third Man"), but one would have thought that Lang would be a worthy runner up given his proved track record for bringing suspenseful and playful noirs to movie audiences. And "Ministry of Fear" isn't a bad movie, it's just somewhat lacklustre. The major elements from the novel are there, but they never cohere into the dazzlingly fun story Greene gives us in the book. The seance, for example, which is one of the most memorable set pieces in any of Greene's works, exists in the film as a device for moving along the plot.Ray Milland is pretty decent in the principal role; he's got that dark and slightly brooding look that you picture when imagining any number of Greene protagonists. And Dan Duryea does duty as, what else, an unctuous villain.Grade: B
Fritz Lang directed this film based on a Graham Greene novel that stars Ray Milland as Stephen Neale, who has just been released from an asylum after two years for the mercy-killing of his terminally ill wife. It is London during WWII, and Stephen stops at a country fête where he correctly guesses the weight of a cake, but after a misunderstanding with a "fortune teller", finds himself mixed up with a spy ring that leads to the fête organizers, one of whom(a beautiful woman played by Marjorie Reynolds) falls in love with Stephen, and helps him evade both the police and enemy agents to uncover the truth. Atmospheric and exciting film may defy credibility at times, but interesting characters and setting make all the difference.
Graham Greene's novels translated well into memorable films. "Ministry of Fear", the 1944 Paramount feature directed by Fritz Lang, united two creators that shared a lot in common. Seton Miller adapted the original material. The result is an interesting film that is not seen a lot these days, but serious fans of this genre will find pleasure in the way Mr. Lang tells this story of intrigue at the height of WWII in England.Stephen Neale has been sent to a mental facility after being found guilty of the mercy killing of his terminally ill wife. The Neales had come from South Africa hoping for the cure that never came. As he is about to be set free, the director of the asylum warns Neale to try to stay away from the police because with his record, any little thing will be held against him.As a way to spend some time before his train to London, Stephen discovers a sort of a benefit fair near the station. He goes looking to spend some time amusing himself, instead he finds himself in the middle of an international intrigue, although he has no inkling of what he is going about to embark. Visiting the clairvoyant, she gives him the solution for winning the cake at one of the booths. It also puts him in contact with a mysterious man that will prove to be key to the story.Stephen Neale finds out in the hard way he has gotten himself into unknown territory when the blind man traveling in his compartment tries to steal the cake Stephen won at the fair. It makes him wonder what was all the fuss about, but it is a little too late. Arriving in London he goes to get help from a private detective, when he tries to investigate the organization that sponsored the fair. Stephen Neale will get involved with a sinister group of people as well as with Scotland Yard.At the center of the action, Ray Milland had a chance to play the innocent man that is first accused of a murder, and then, plays into the spy ring operating behind the ladies' organization. His Stephen Neale is not as effective as Robert Donat, or a Cary Grant, but he gives a well felt performance. Marjorie Reynolds plays Carla, who becomes Stephen's love interest. Carl Esmond appears as Carla's brother, a man that had bigger designs for Neale. Hilary Brooke makes an intriguing Mrs. Bellane, and Dan Duryea does one of his sly heavies, something he played with panache. Alan Napier and Percy Waram are seen among the supporting cast.
