ISTANBUL

US, 1956, 84 minutes, Colour.
Errol Flynn, Cornell Borchers, John Bentley, Torin Thatcher, Leif Erickson, Martin Benson, Vladimir Sokoloff, Werner Klemperer, Nat King Cole, Peggy Knudsen.
Directed by Joseph Pevney.

Istanbul is a latter-day Errol Flynn thriller. He shows his age but exerts his charm. Cornell Borchers is an attractive heroine (The Big Lift, The Divided Heart, Never Say Goodbye). There is an enjoyable supporting cast including Torin Thatcher as a suave Englishman, Leif Erickson and Peggy Knudsen (especially) as American tourists, Werner Klemperer as a nervous crook and Nat King Cole with his attractive songs Directed by Joseph Pevney, who directed many action films as well as comedies at this time, it has attractive colour Cinemascope photography. The film is a remake of a John Brahm film, Singapore, 1947, with Fred Mac Murray and Ava Gardner.

1. A popular thriller? Its dramatic impact? Romantic impact? Errol Flynn vehicle? The exotic international touch?

2. Colour photography, the atmosphere of Istanbul? The use of Cinemascope? The emphasis on the authentic atmosphere of the city? An atmosphere for international robbery? Amnesia? The contribution of the musical score and Nat King Cole's songs?

3. A conventional thriller: the establishing of the hero, heroine, crises? Jewel robberies? International police? American tourists? A pleasing combination?

4. The dramatic aspects of the plot? The focus on Stephanie and her amnesia? Jim and his absence from Istanbul and the mystery about the jewels? The Customs inspector, the gang. Stephanie's new name and new husband? A blend for romantic melodrama?

5. Errol Flynn as Jim Brennan: his character, the Errol Flynn charm? His return to Istanbul? Friendship with Danny Rice? The encounter with Stephanie and her not recognising him. the flashback technique and the recounting of the romance. the situation with the diamonds, their being hidden? The fire? Jim and his trying to jolt Stephanie's memory? The continued investigation? The discovery of the jewels? The pressure from Paul Renkov? Action, romance? The fire and the final heroics for the happy ending?

6. Cornel Borchers' attractive style as Stephanie? The romance with Jim? Her background. visit to Istanbul. falling in love? The gift? The jewels? Her amnesia? Marriage? Her fear about Jim's attentions? Her being kidnapped? Interrogated? The fire and her memory coming back? An attractive heroine?

7. Douglas Fielding and his devotion to his wife? His resisting Jim's search? His finally giving in? The gentlemanly English?

8. The inspector and his continued attention? Ways of investigation? Set-ups? The details of police investigation?

9. Mr. Darius and his sinister control, greed, violence? His henchmen, especially Paul Renkov? The shopkeepers? The jewel dealers? The attacks on Jim, the search for the jewels, the kidnap of Stephanie and her torture? The fire?

10. The comic touches with the American couple Charlie and Marge Boyle? The contribution of the humour to the romantic melodrama?

11. Conventional action material - pleasingly done?