Writer-producer Robert Buckner was a former journo and liked a bit of "ripped from the headlines" cinema (eg Sword in the Desert). This is based on the pursuit of Martin Bormann and the large numbers of Germans who enlisted in the French Foreign Legion following the end of World War Two. There is considerable novelty in a film set in the very early days of the Vietnam War, with scenes of the legion clashing with the Viet Minh. It's surprisingly sympathetic to the latter - leader Philip Anh whinges to communist Vincent Price that they are being exploited by the reds as well as the French.
But that's only a small component of this film - it's basically Dick Powell chasing former Nazi Stephen McNally, helped by French agent/singer Marta Toren and hindered by man of mystery Vincent Price.
I wasn't wild about the cast. I'm happy for Dick Powell that he reimagined himself as a tough guy star but never really liked him in those roles - I would've preferred say Alan Ladd. Marta Toren feels like a send up of an exotic European actress. And that final scene of the two of them on the farm in Omaha was ridiculous.
However McNally and Price are very good, I love Hollywood backlot recreations of the third world, in this case Saigon and the area around it. The story moves at a decent pulpy pace and the novelty of a modern day foreign legion tale gets this over the line.
No comments:
Post a Comment