VENETIAN BIRD

UK, 1952, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Todd, Eva Bartok, John Gregson, George Colouris, Sidney James, Walter Rilla.
Directed by Ralph Thomas.

Venetian Bird is a neat thriller of the early 50s. Victor Canning, popular novelist of the time, adapted his thriller for the screen. In--retrospect, it resembles the plot of the Third Man with Venice instead of Vienna and a partisan called Renzo Uccello (Italian for Bird) as the Harry Lime equivalent. Richard Todd is a private detective looking for Uccello - and being led in false directions for a variety of political and financial reasons. The film has an interesting supporting cast, many of the British cast sporting Italian accents for the film, especially John Gregson as the villain, Sid James and Miles Malleson.

The film was made on location in Venice and takes advantage of the scenery and the buildings - a great bonus for enjoying the film. It was directed by Ralph Thomas, better known, perhaps, for his comedies like The Doctor series and for dramas and melodramas like The Thirty Nine Steps, A Tale of Two Cities.

1. Interesting and entertaining thriller? Mystery?

2. The Venetians settings, authentic, the piazzas, the buildings, canals? The glass blowing factories? Towns outside Venice? The score by Nino Rota?

3. The title, the reference to Uccello?

4. Edward Mercer, Richard Todd's clipped British style? His war background? Private detective? Arrival in Venice, contacts, people being wary? The man coming to give him information and his being bashed? His murder? False name? Mercer and the help from Rosa, memories of the war? From Bernardo? Going to the gallery, the encounter with Adrianna? With the Count? The false information? The murder victim, the police chief and the interrogation? Mercer following through and going to seek Uccello's burial place, the hotel, the sculptor? His coming to the end of his search? Suspicions the toughs following him? The encounters with Adrianna, falling in love with her, her telling him the truth? His visit to the gallery, overhearing the Count and Uccello? The danger with the little girl coming into the room? His going to the glass factory and being taken by Uccello? The set-up for the assassination, his being unconscious, the rifle- with him? Adrianna's denial? The police chief and the interrogation
His escape? Help by Rosa and Bernardo? His finally going out, the confrontation with Uccello? On the roofs of Venice? Uccello's death? His vindication?

5. Renzo Uccello as a Harry lime character? War hero? Criminal? Covering his tracks and the false death? His talent and his designs? Marriage to Adrianna? On hirer to the Count as an assassin? The irony of the audience seeing him as the genial camera man? As the police follower and informer? The truth, his commission? Taking Mercer, the set-up, his escape? The final confrontation, the truth for Adrianna? The pursuit and his death?

6. Adrianna, her lies, her attraction to Mercer? Love for Uccello? Trying to preserve him? Not knowing the truth? The encounters with Mercer - his believing her, her later lying? Planning to leave with Uccello, the discovery of the truth?

7. The Count, sinister, fascist? In league with the police chief? The plans for the assassination of and take-over? The gallery, the lies, Adrianna? The clashes with Mercer? The assassination and its success? Longo and his part in the plan - foiled by the little girl?

8. The police chief, interrogation, exasperation, confrontations with Mercer? The pursuit?

9. Rosa and her war record, relationship with Bernardo - and his helping with the safe place?

10. The little girl, friendship with Mercer, giving him information? Playing in the gallery? Foiling the framing of Mercer?

11. The gallery of Italian characters, police, the sculptor in the village? Authentic atmosphere?

12. The atmosphere of Italy post-war, government, Cue de tar, revolutions? Political assassinations,? The pictures of the crowd and their angers?

13. The popular type of thriller from the early 50s?