FIVE FINGERS

US, 1951, 110 minutes, Black and White.
James Mason, Danielle Darrieux, Michael Rennie.
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Five Fingers started much interest in war spy films. It tells the true story of espionage in Turkey during World War II and of the mind of the enigmatic valet spy, Cicero, who gave so much information to the Germans (who were too suspicious to use it) who gave him money (counterfeit) in return.

James Mason is superbly suave as the spy and it is his film. Direction is by master director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve, Suddenly Last Summer, Cleopatra, Sleuth).

1. Why was this film acclaimed as a fine film - the espionage action, or has it other values?

2. How does the film establish its war mood, the atmosphere of espionage in neutral Turkey?

3. What kind of man does Cicero seem to be on first appearance -his cool manner, assurance, motivations, his views on spies and pride; the wordless communication concerning Cicero's job?

4. What does the film have to say about spies and spying - sordid but not unrewarding, with no other terms except money?

5. What kind of woman was the Countess? What role did she play in Turkey and in the diplomatic scene? How did her background explain her?

6. In the interaction between Cicero and the Countess, how did each emerge and develop? What were Cicero's values - his mobility, eloquence, dissatisfaction, culture? His use of the Countess. his infatuation with her? Her use of him, her complaints about his treating her as a servant, his lack of confidence in himself and 'buying' her, her establishing herself as his equal?

7. What role did the Germans play? Did they take good precautions? Did they trust Cicero? What was the function of Moyzisch?

8. How exciting were the actual espionage sequences? Why?

9. Was Colin Travers important as a character in the film, or only in his function of British efficiency? How did the British contrast with the Germans? How were the German attitudes complicated by the official's attitudes to the Nazis, e.g. Von Pappen, and German suspicion. inaction and cut-throating?

10. How cunning was the Countess's betrayal of Diello?

11. How was the climax handled - the lady with the cleaner and the lights, decisions re the authenticity of his material and killing him, his escape and chase, the Mosque?

12. How were Diello's ambitions fulfilled as he stood in his white dinner jacket in Rio?

13. How ironic was the ending - for the Countess, for Diello?

14. What comment did the ending make on the whole spying effort and the world of spying?