The Assassin

As another reviewer says this is something of an underrated film. More so since it was made in 1952. At that time exchange controls would have limited the amount of filming that could be done overseas and so much of it was studio filmed in England.

The story is intricate and the full meaning is not revealed until the final 20 minutes. If Venice seems harsh and cold its very much in the recovery from war mode yet the back drop is excellently atmospheric. The absence of tourists is refreshing. The films high contrast back and white rendition is also noteworthy.

Good cast....

Not hard to see why some say Bond meets 3rd man! Even some classy looking femmes fa tales!

Richard Todd stars in "The Assassin" with Eva Bartok and George Coulouris, from 1952, shot in Venice.

Todd plays Edward Mercer, who comes to Venice on behalf of an insurance company, looking for a man named Uccello who has a reward coming for the rescue of an Allied airman during the war. Unfortunately for Mercer, the first person he's supposed to see is dead. Then he meets Adrianna (Bartok), who knew Uccello, and he is told that Uccello is dead. After a while, though, he begins to think that's not the case.

The director, Ralph Thomas, borrowed a good deal from Hitchcock in this film and did some effective things, particularly at the end, which is marvelous. He also used Venice and its surroundings very well to create an excellent atmosphere. If only the script had been less talky and the plot better, you might really have something here.

Bartok is mysterious, Richard Todd is very serious and quite handsome, and Venice is beautiful, even in black and white. Well worth seeing for that.

Many of these detective series had to be formulaic. That is the nature of a series. So if you want to differentiate, one strategy is to introduce exotic locations. When this was made, that was still rare. The location has to be highlighted in the name, so we have Charlie Chan, the Saint, the Falcon and so in such and such a city.

The place here is Venice. Unfortunately it is not captured well. For some reason, the texture of the city escapes the usual camera. (I did like the color you got in the Clooney "The Job" and the Bond "XXX").

So the setting is largely wasted by the clumsy camera, except for a visit to a Murano glassworks. The glass factories are located on an island near the city because of the ancient fear of fire. These for hundreds of years have been a wonder of the world, once secret, now a bit tired. When this film was made, Chihuly had not yet brought Murano to our attention and the polluting effect of tourism had not occluded its magic.

It is only a few minutes in this otherwise ordinary adventure. And it is just background motion. But you might as I, hold it a dear experience to just see.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

PI Richard Todd comes to Venice to locate a man who rescued an American flyer during the Second World War; there's a reward for him. It turns out he's dead.

Except that people take a lot of interest in Todd when the bleeding man who came to him saying he knew how to find the dead man, turns up dead himself. After Todd explains himself to local Chief of Police George Coulouris, Todd goes hunting for the dead man, and finds clues. It all leads up to the man's widow, a local nobleman, and a assassination.

It's certainly competently written and performed, but the real star of this movie by Ralph Thomas -- who was about to make his bones with DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE -- is the city of Venice, shot in its black-and-white glory by Ernest Steward. Steward had become a regular DP the previous year, and would stick with Thomas for a few years; this would lead him into the mirthful more of the Carry On films, and along career in which he was never able to distinguish himself again. Ah, well. Sometimes a steady job is better than fading glory.

Private Investigator Edward Mercer (Richard Todd) saves a man from being murdered. Before he can talk to him, he slips away.

Enter Adriana Medova (Eva Bartok), who may have information about the man. Mercer soon finds himself caught up in a web of mystery, deception, and murder.

THE ASSASSIN is a semi-dark, moody thriller that saves most of its thrills for the big finale. Todd is convincing in his role, as is Ms. Bartok, playing a conflicted character that would have suited the likes of Ingrid Bergman.

Recommended for lovers of conspiracies and political intrigue...