DESPERATE MOMENT
UK, 1953, 88 minutes, Black and white.
Dirk Bogarde, Mai Zetterling, Philip Friend, Albert Lieven, Carl Jaffe, Gerald Heinz.
Directed by Compton Bennett.
Desperate Moment is a brisk British thriller, the popular style of actioner from the early '50s. Dirk Bogarde was adept at starring roles in this kind of film. Mai Zetterling is his sympathetic leading lady.
The film has the background of the war in Europe, the black market, the Resistance, violence and betrayal, military prisoners. The film has the framework of a murder investigation and a hero on the run trying to vindicate himself.
The film is crisply written, briskly acted, efficiently produced and filmed. The style is the best of British - and even though the material seems dated as well as the style, it still has enough entertainment value to hold its audience. Direction is by Compton Bennett, whose credits ranged from The Seventh Veil to King Solomon's Mines.
1. Entertaining British thriller? The perspective on the war from the '50s? From later decades?
2. Black and white photography, European settings, the aftermath of the war in Europe, Berlin and other cities bombed? The black and white photography? Musical score?
3. The title - and its references to the murder of the British officer, Simon confessing, his attempts to escape, to find out the truth?
4. The focus on Simon, on the train, his attempt to get away, his being taken to the castle? His confession to murder? Imprisonment? The interrogations, the kindly guard? The visit of Anna? The change of perspective with her coming, his believing her dead? The flashbacks, the Resistance, attempts to escape? Paul and his hold over the group? Telling him that Anna was dead - and his being prepared to give himself up while they escaped?
5. His attempt to prove his innocence, his shrewdness in overcoming the guard and escaping? Making contact with Anna? Her believing him and helping him? His travel, the lift with the priest, his trying to track down the associates of the past? The man already dead and his finding his funeral? His being chased, the descriptions in the cinema, his attempts to escape? Having a meal, on the ferry, diving overboard, being rescued? The fishermen helping him on his way? His work with Anna, their meetings? Finding the associate, his being willing to testify, his death? Tracking down Anton, his fears? The arrangement to go to meet Paul, discovering the truth? The attempt to kill him, his escape? Giving himself up, the official not believing him, the truth about Anna's being not at home? Their pursuit, the confrontation with Paul after the chase, the fight and his arrest? Simon and his vindication? The sympathetic hero?
6. Anna, the long friendship with Simon, visiting him in the hospital? In love, helping him, after he escaped, the money, moving around Europe to meet him? The letter - and her reading it to the official, his friendship with her, his having found Simon for her? His attentions? Going to the bombed out theatre? Making the contacts, getting the information, meeting the woman and contacting the associate? With Anton, his willingness to testify, going to Paul? Her not realising the truth? The final confrontation with him, in the car? The struggles, the happy ending?
7. The British officials, their work in Europe, prisoners, investigations? The black market, the stealing of penicillin? War criminals?
8. Paul, his being filmed in the shadows, his deceiving Simon? The story about his black marketeering? Plastic surgery? His being a successful businessman, his hold over the others, organising their deaths? The man pushed under the train? Anton and his fears, unwilling to testify, being shot - and witnessing against Paul?
9. The behind-the-scenes of the heroism and the suffering of the war? The Resistance, murders, exploitation and the black market? The corrupt foundations of businessmen in Germany?
10. The short running time, action and pace? Entertainment value? Perspective on World War Two?
