Top Secret (1952 film)
Top Secret is a 1952 British black and white comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and starring George Cole, Oskar Homolka and Nadia Gray.[2] A sanitation inspector is mistaken for an international spy. It was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ivan King. The film was released in the United States as Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow.[3]
| Top Secret | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mario Zampi |
| Written by | Jack Davies Michael Pertwee |
| Story by | Jack Davies Michael Pertwee |
| Produced by | Mario Zampi |
| Starring | George Cole Oskar Homolka Nadia Gray |
| Cinematography | Stanley Pavey |
| Edited by | Giulio Zampi |
| Music by | Stanley Black |
Production companies | Associated British Picture Corporation Transocean Productions |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £133,313 (UK)[1] |
Plot edit
George Potts, a plumber in a top secret government research plant, accidentally comes into possession of the plans for a revolutionary atomic weapon. As George leaves for his annual holiday, the research security team embarks on a nationwide search for the hapless 'sanitary engineer'. Meanwhile, the Russians get wind of the incident and intercept George, plying him with liquor and employment promises so that he'll hand over the plans to them. All the while, George never knows what the fuss is about: he thinks that the British and Soviet authorities are interested in his new plans for a modern ballcock system he is carrying. The Russians offer him a job in the Kremlin doing research (on plumbing, he believes), and steal his ballcock plans.
They put George in prison and interrogate him, using a truth drug, but although he tells them truthfully that he hid the plans in the lining of Tania's coat, they have disappeared, because they are in Zekov's coat lining.
While there he falls in love with secret agent Tania, and discovers the true nature of the plans he is carrying.[4][5]
George organises a flight to East Berlin where Zekov is waiting, unaware that he is carrying the plans.
Cast edit
- George Cole as George Potts
- Oskar Homolka as Zekov
- Nadia Gray as Tania Ivanova
- Frederick Valk as Rakov
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Sir Hubert Wells
- Geoffrey Sumner as Pike
- Ronald Adam as Barworth Controller
- Ernest Jay as Prof. Layton
- Edwin Styles as Barworth Superintendent
- Richard Wattis as Barnes
- Michael Medwin as Smedley
- Eleanor Summerfield as Cecilia
- Irene Handl as Mrs. Tidmarsh
- Phyllis Morris as Mrs. Tweedy
- Charles Goldner as Gaston
- Ina De La Haye as Madame
- Ronnie Stevens as Aubrey
- Olaf Pooley as Professor Roblettski
- Kynaston Reeves as Barworth Director
- Frederick Leister as Prime Minister
- Henry Hewitt as Minister of Health
- Gibb McLaughlin as Schoolmaster
- Michael Balfour as Jersey Sailor
- Walter Horsbrugh as 1st Cabinet Minister
- Anthony Shaw as 2nd Cabinet Minister
- Tim Turner as 1st Reporter
- Hal Osmond as Jersey Waiter
- Myrtle Reed as Jersey Air Hostess
- David Hurst as Deutsch
- Bernard Rebel as Trubiev
- Guido Lorraine as 1st M.V.D.
- Terence Alexander as 2nd M.V.D.
- Richard Marner as Russian Sentry
- Martin Boddey as Russian Security Officer
- Gerard Heinz as Russian Director of Plant
- Fred Berger as Russian Doctor
- Victor Maddern as British N.C.O.
- Reed De Rouen as 1st U.S. Soldier
- Johnny Catcher as 2nd U.S. Soldier
- Willoughby Gray as British Officer
- Christopher Lee as Russian Agent
- Stanislaus Zienciakiewicz as Joseph Stalin
- Anton Diffring as East German policeman
Critical reception edit
The New York Times noted, "as long as the action stays this side of the Iron Curtain, the production is enjoyable—and understandable — but once entangled with the enigma of Communist rule, the farce ends."[3]
Allmovie wrote, "no one takes Top Secret seriously--certainly not Oscar Homolka, who delivers a bravura performance as a Russian secret agent who wistfully yearns for the glories of the Czarist days."[4]
References edit
- ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p499
- ^ . Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- ^ a b O. A. G. (3 September 1953). "Movie Review - Mr Potts Goes to Moscow - 'Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow,' an Import". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- ^ a b allmovie
- ^ "Top Secret (1952) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
External links edit
- Top Secret at IMDb
- Top Secret at the TCM Movie Database