ORDERS TO KILL

UK, 1958, 111 minutes, Black and white.
Paul Massie, James Robertson Justice, Eddie Albert, Lillian Gish, John Crawford, Lionel Jeffries.
Directed by Anthony Asquith.

Orders to Kill is an arresting war story. It explores the nature of war, especially the killing of individuals in espionage situations.

The film. was written by Paul Dehn, writer of excellent thrillers in the '50s and '60s. The film has a strong cast, an international, cast including Americans Eddie Albert and Lillian Gish, stage actress Irene Worth as the French, spy. Paul Massie is the tortured hero, reminiscent of the war tributes of the of the re-creations of the war in the 50s.

The hero is tormented by the memory of his missions, with the doubts in the hero's mind about his victim and the violent death which proves to have been unnecessary. These are issues of conscience.

1. An interesting and enjoyable drama? War espionage? The morality of war?

2. Black and white photography? The atmosphere of the war in Europe? French locations? The contrast with the United States? Post-war hospitals and Paris. The musical score? The, techniques used for tension and pace, for the hero's dilemma, for the killing?

3. The title and - moral issues of war? The morality of giving orders, of taking orders? Questioning orders? Conscience? The repercussions of errors?

4. The focus on Gene Summers? His many raids as a bomber pilot? His going on leave? Young and enthusiastic? His background in France? The American decision to use him for the dangerous mission? His being recruited? Visit to his mother and leaving her? The early interrogations? The intensity of the training? The new identity? His being caught out? The mock Gestapo interrogation and its effect? The Naval Commander? The preparation for the mission? His being landed in France? The contact with Leonie? Her strength of mind? The codes, the covers? The interchange with her? Her seeming heartlessness? Her keeping him on the track? His tracking his victim? The discovery of Lafitte and trying to square the person with the report of betrayal? The family? His growing doubts? His contact with Leonie? Her cold rebukes? Her demanding that he obey orders? Not judge Lafitte? The encounters, the restaurant? The human feeling and audience sympathy? The brutal killing of Lafitte and Lafitte's puzzle and horror? The effect on his family? The disappearance of Gene and the taking of the money? His post-war collapse, his drinking, hospitalisation? The American contacts and his wanting to know the truth? Lafitte's innocence? His visiting Madame Lafitte and giving her the money? Conscience money? His statement that her husband was a colleague? The devastation of the war on the Lafitte family? On Gene?

5. Leonie and her work in Paris, her contacts, her cover? The Nazis and the occupation? Her friendship with Gene? impersonal? Her concern for contacts, the telephone calls? Her severity with him? personal experience and grief?

6. The final commission, the American officials, the training, major? contact with Gene? rigorous training and its relentlessness?

7. Gene's background? His mother?

8. Ordinary? The possibility of his being a traitor? Means of communication? the Underground? The personality of Lafitte? The scenes in the restaurant? A gentle and genial man? His friendship? Gene? The horror of his death?

9. A disturbing film? A jolt to conscience about the rigours of war, the uncertainties, the violence, orders and decisions?