Tonight's movie was called "Confidential Agent" (1945), adapted from legendary novelist Graham Greene's book of the same name. Greene was the author of many books of different subject matter, but among his most well-known were those in the espionage genre, like "The Quiet American", "The Third Man" (for which he wrote the movie script), and "Confidential Agent". The film stars the handsome and steadfast Charles Boyer (i.e. Shahls Boy-Yay) a French leading man who was a regular in American films in the late 30s through the 40s. Boyer usually played a suave, sophisticated type who attracted women like a magnet, but this persona was offset by his seriousness onscreen and his character's often righteous determination to prevail against all odds in whatever plot machinations he was up against in a given picture. He came across as a Man Of Integrity, in the movies and in real life.
In "Confidential Agent" he plays a pianist and composer whose life has been interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. Though an ordinary citizen, he is conscripted by the Republicans (who in Spain were on the Left), to go to England on a secret mission involving the sale of coal by a British mining conglomerate. Both sides in Spain covet the British supply of coal that each needs to fuel their war machines. The Fascists, led by Generalissimo Francisco Franco, seem to have the upper hand in signing a deal, but Boyer is trying to sabotage it. He has an ally in Lauren Bacall, doing her thing as only she can, as the daughter of the coal magnate at the center of the deal. Only she knows Charles Boyer's secret identity. Outwardly, to the Brits, he is just an expat musician. But he slowly closes in on his mission.
Peter Lorre is on hand in a minor role as a language teacher who has hidden Fascist sympathies, and since we love Lorre especially from the "Mr. Moto" movies we saw earlier in the Summer, it was great to have his reprise tonight. He rules, even in a brief supporting role. A Greek actress named Katina Paxinou plays the owner of a London rooming house at which Charles Boyer is staying. She is also a Fascist, working in cahoots with Lorre, and she becomes the villain on which the plot axis pivots.
A young girl who works for her as a maid is a central character. She is portrayed as being fourteen, and the actress who plays this role nearly steals the show from all of the adults. I am not familiar with the intricacies of English accents, but it is clear that this plain adolescent girl, on her own with no family, comes from lower class stock. I assumed she was being played by a young English actress, so I was very surprised to discover, upon IMDBing the movie later on, that the young actress was Wanda Hendrix, who was from Florida and whom I have mentioned once before, from a Western, as being Audie Murphy's first wife. Here in this very convoluted thriller, she is just a kid and is playing an English waif so convincingly that you are certain she is the real thing.
Now that's acting. The emotional crescendo of the plot turns on her performance.
I've had a few rough spots in my recent movie viewing, including one flick ("Black Moon") that had an interesting premise and great photography, but that I had to turn off (see recent blog), and then I had last night's "Something Wild", which was a near classic in so many ways but then ruined it's greatness with a preposterous ending, so it was very refreshing and inspiring tonight to see such a truly great film that excelled in all aspects, from production to story to acting.
The writing of Graham Greene is a main reason, no doubt. Try to find a script this great, I dare you.
But it's also the performances, especially of Boyer, Wanda Hendrix, Katina Paxinou and Lauren Bacall, who kind of anchors everything with her slinky toughness.
Add great acting to a high level script, then edit every scene to extract all fat, throw in classic Noir photography in B&W (what else?), and you have a wartime masterpiece.
I was surprised how good this film was, and because it is Graham Greene, I wonder why it is not as well known as "The Third Man", because it is every bit as great as that film.
Five Stars and Two Huge Thumbs Up, a 100% Classic of the time and the genre, not to be missed. ///
In other news, briefly, it looks like the wheels are coming off the Trump Train with the release today of the excerpts from Bob Woodward's book. Expect a derailment soon.
Hopefully Kavanaugh is toast, too, though my hopes aren't as high on that score. Ultimately, it won't matter, however, because we are living through a Sea Change in American History, when the era of people like Kavanaugh and Trump is coming to a permanent end.
I wish no one ill will on a personal human level, but good riddance to bad people in power.
See you in the morning. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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