User reviews

I'd never heard of this film when I tuned in to the History channel of all places, hoping for a diversion. I was immediately caught up in this suspenseful and well-acted TRUE STORY of how and why the Nazis obtained advance knowledge of the D-Day invasion, but made no use of it. Some of the most implausible aspects of this fictionalized account - the delicious surprise twist at the end - are TRUE! One of my film guides informed me that "5 Fingers" won the '53 Golden Globe for its excellent screenplay. The highlights of the witty script include the interplay of James Mason, as the suave valet I couldn't help rooting for, and Danielle Darrieux, as the penniless yet glamourously seductive Countess Staviska. The acting of these two is top-notch; the supporting cast is consistently strong, and the Turkish location shooting gives it body. And the direction, by Joseph Mankiewicz is solid. This is a film about which you will ask, as I did: "Why Haven't I Heard of THIS one Before!?!"

Another great performance by James Mason - he is wonderful as the brainy, underestimated valet of the British Ambassador to Turkey who feeds invaluable information to the Nazis for a price. The betrayals and counter-betrayals throughout make this a terrific suspense film. As usual, I find myself hoping that James Mason will get away with his crimes, even in spite of the despicable nature of his treachery and to whom he is betraying his secrets. The ending is satisfying in the most perfect way.

I remember reading the book on which this film is based more than fifty years ago, as well as seeing it when it was first released. I have just viewed it again and want to encourage others to see it. It is well crafted in every respect -- taut direction, superb performances, and a very fine screenplay. This film deserves more recognition.

Supposedly based on a true story, a valet uses his position at British embassy to steal WWII secrets to sell to the Germans.

What a superbly tight script that stays on the compelling track the whole time. We watch lowly valet Diello (Mason) use nothing but wits and guts to outmaneuver both the British and the Germans. He's not a sympathetic lead character, always unusual for a Hollywood production (TCF). But you can't help admiring his ability to outwit the professionals, even if he is completely self-centered.

I get the feeling Diello sees himself as a natural born aristocrat denied that position by the fortunes of birth. So, by golly, he's going to use those talents to get the wealth and position he deserves, but which European society has denied him.

Mason is simply superb in a tailor-made part. He projects both the icy intelligence and curt politeness that the role requires. I sweated a bucket load when the cleaning lady rummages around the closet, while Diello photographs embassy secrets. If she finds the power switch, he's toast. Great scene.

Note too, how there're no obvious good guys-bad guys, also unusual for a WWII drama. The British are slightly favored, but at least the Germans aren't caricatured. It's more like one opportunist (Diello) is exploiting both sides impartially, and they're both after him.

Then too, what guy wouldn't lose his head over the delectable Darrieux, even a guy as calculating as Diello. All of which makes the ending one of the most ironically satisfying in movie annals. I'm betting this was one of the best films to come out of that spare movie year of 1952. So if you haven't seen it, do.

This forgotten film brilliantly directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz is one of the best spy films we have seen in recent memory. The film holds the viewer in suspense up the last frame. Mr. Mankiewicz was working on the fine screen play written by Michael Wilson, based on a real incident told by L. C. Moyzisch, a German officer who is a key player in the story.

The film opens in Ankara, Turkey's capital during WWII. The place is swarming with spies and intrigues. We are taken to a reception where we encounter Countess Anna, a beautiful woman of uncertain age, who is living below her means in the country. Anna asks for monetary help to a German officer, who she has met before. At this point, we meet Diello, a valet to the English ambassador to Turkey. Diello has a proposal for Moyzisch, a German connected to the embassy. He proposes a deal where he will cooperate in spying for the Germans in exchange of heavy amounts of money.

Since Diello needs a front, Countess Anna, becomes the a desirable object for this man's plans in how to conduct the business. Thus the impoverished countess agrees to the plan. Countess Anna becomes a hostess who gathers in her new elegant surroundings the cream of the diplomatic society. The countess goes along with the scheme, but at the same time, she deeply resents the idea of having Diello, a man that is not from her circle and background, be treated as her equal.

The film works because what we see is what really happened. This being a real story, is not something that came out of some writer's imagination. On the contrary, we are completely astounded in the way this Diello was able to fool his superiors at the embassy. We watch as Diello goes about the business of spying right at the ambassador's office without being caught.

There are two ironic twists to the story that come as complete surprises to us. In a way, because one is not expecting, the first one is the betrayal to Diello by the heartless countess, and the second one is at the conclusion of the film. This last one is something that keeps us laughing along with Diello and in turn to the woman who double crossed him.

James Mason, is excellent as Diello. Mr. Mason was an actor that always delivered. In his English films, as well as some of his Hollywood movies, this actor projected such a powerful figure. His method of working always amazes because his performances always build up to unexpected results. The film belongs to Mr. Mason, who is terrific and charismatic.

Danielle Darrieux, one of the best French film actresses of all times, makes a delightful appearance as Countess Anna. She transforms herself from a the woman trying to eke out a living to the sophisticated lady of a society she felt comfortable with because she was born into it.

The supporting roles are quite good. The surprise was Herbert Berghof, one of the most famous acting teachers of all times making a rare appearance.

"5 Fingers" has a great black and white cinematography by Norman Brodine who captures some of those Turkish locales in all their splendor. The film score by Bernard Herrmann adds another dimension to the film. Thanks to Mr. Mankiewicz, this is a film that will please his admirers.

During the late 1940s and into the 1950s, Joseph Mankiewicz was probably the most successful man in Hollywood--directing and writing such amazing films as "A Letter to Three Wives", "All About Eve" and "House of Strangers". However, by the time he made "Five Fingers", Mankiewicz was at the end of his contract with Twentieth Century- Fox--and it sure was an excellent farewell.

This movie is based on real events, though a few changes were made for cinematic purposes. James Mason plays a valet in the British embassy in Turkey during WWII and he's a completely trusted but totally amoral man. To earn money for his retirement, the guy approaches the Nazis and offers to sell them secrets.

What is most interesting about this movie is that you see just how stupid the Nazis and the Brits. Despite repeatedly giving them excellent information, again and again the Nazis didn't trust it and didn't take advantage of it. As for the Brits, you wouldn't think that they'd let an Albanian valet to have such access to secrets! Still, it's a very fascinating story--one that is well made and well worth your time.

Up till recently I had never seen 5 Fingers, for some reason it is rarely shown on television. But in watching it I knew why Alfred Hitchcock had cast James Mason as villainous Philip Van Damm in North By Northwest. His role as Diello in 5 Fingers, the Albanian spy for profit, is apparently what Hitchcock saw before casting his film.

The setting of this is Ankara, capital of neutral Turkey in World War II. Mason is the valet of the British ambassador there and an Albanian national. He's hit upon a scheme to enrich himself with a little espionage.

Mason hits the jackpot with the secret plans for Overlord, the location and operation of the Allied invasion of Europe. He pulls off the caper of all time, but things go quite awry after that. Former employer Countess Danielle Darrieux does him wrong in a very big way.

Michael Rennie is fine as the intrepid British counter intelligence agent and the other outstanding performance is John Weingraf as Franz Von Papen the German Ambassador to Turkey at the time. He wasn't called the Fox for nothing.

If you enjoyed James Mason in that Hitchcock classic, you will not want to miss 5 Fingers.

James Mason does an excellent job as a suave valet to the British Ambassador in "Five Fingers." Desiring the life of a Rio de Janeiro gentleman, he starts selling secrets out of the Ambassador's safe to the Nazis, with the help of the wife of his former employer, Danielle Darrieux. Michael Rennie is brought in to see if he can discover the source of the leak.

Joseph Mankiewicz directed the film, and it's done in partial documentary style with narration. It's based on a true story, though the Darrieux character was invented for the film.

This is a highly entertaining film with some wonderful, suspenseful moments, a neat twist at the end, and the highly atmospheric Turkish scenery. Highly recommended.

FIVE FINGERS is one of the better espionage movies that came out in the '50s, a post-war film that contains a wonderful central performance by JAMES MASON, an excellent script and fine direction from Joseph L. Mankiewicz. TCM was presenting it as a tribute to Bernard Herrmann, who contributes his background score to the film--a minor work, in my opinion, not as stirring as the scores he would later write for his collaboration with Hitchcock.

It's the taut script that supplies all the suspense and the performances of an expert cast. DANIELLE DARRIEUX is assured as the greedy Countess who decides to go along with Mason's offer of assisting him in his little enterprise with the Germans so that she can acquire the wealth to which she is accustomed, rather than remain penniless. It's their relationship that leads to the stunning twist ending.

There are clever touches in the screenplay that will have the viewer on the edge of the seat as Mason almost gets caught time after time, but is able to use his wits at all times to avoid capture. The satisfying ending is quite unpredictable and seems to be manufactured in order to add some zest to the spy story--but that's no matter.

Mason was at the top of his form, using his voice and suave, debonair charm as an English gentleman who happens to be a very astute spy while working as a valet at the British Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. MICHAEL RENNIE is fine as the American agent assigned to find out who is stealing "Top Secret" WWII plans for defeating the Germans. The last half-hour deals with his attempts to track down and capture Mason once he is aware that he is the culprit.

Fascinating spy yarn deserves to be seen as one of the best of its kind with an ironic ending.

5 Fingers was based on true facts. James Mason plays Diello. An Albanian who was once a valet to a Polish Count.

After the Count died, Diello was let go by his widow Countess Anna Staviska (Danielle Darrieux.) The impoverished Countess is now in Ankara as she lost her land to the Nazis.

Diello meanwhile works as a valet to the British ambassador in Ankara. He plans to make money by selling secrets to the Nazis. His motive is pure profit.

Sell valuable information and eventually hop it to Rio de Janeiro. He brings the Countess into his plans and she readily agrees as she would do anything to escape poverty.

The Nazis come to believe that Dillo who has the code name Cicero might be a British plant feeding them false information. The British meanwhile bring in a counterintelligence expert Travers (Michael Rennie) to find out who is leaking secrets.

James Mason is having a whale of a time as the amoral and greedy Diello. This is such a cynical espionage film. It has a bittersweet ending with some double crosses but you feel everyone might be a loser.

The film could had been faster paced and more slick. You would think someone like Hitchcock would had made this more thrilling and the humour more darker.

I'm the first to admit that spy movies sometimes confuse me. If you absolutely love the genre and enjoy the mind-bending attention that must be paid, you've got to check out Five Fingers. James Mason stars as a valet to the German ambassador, but he mas much more ambition than just that. He portrays himself as devoted and humble, but he listens to everything and pays attention. On the side, he steals state secrets and sells them on the black market to the highest bidder!

I'm much more of a James Mason fan when he plays a good guy. He's rather villainous in this one, and (although this isn't everything) he sports an unflattering haircut, so while I was confused, I couldn't even console myself with eye candy. Costarring Danielle Darrieux and Michael Rennie, this is a drama that forces you to keep on your toes. If you nod off for a moment, you'll be lost. So pay attention! And find out just how far James's five fingers will go for money.

This is one of the great spy films. Mason gives his trademark cool, expert performance as a slippery, suave spy for the Nazis. The story is one of 20th Century Fox's series of documentary-style films based on real events during World War II.

The sense of danger and suspense is well handled, and the conclusion is Shakespearian in irony. This is a minor classic -- minor simply because few people know about it. See it if you get the chance.

This World War II espionage classic has all the right elements in just the right mix: a) menacing Nazis; b) spies; c) double dealing; d) heroic characters; e) the old guard; f) noble values, g) a cliff-hanging ending; h) and just enough threatened violence to keep your palms sweaty and glued to your seat. An added plus is the exotic setting of the movie (in Turkey). It is my understanding that the director wanted to keep the movie as realistic as possible, so he filmed in locations where the action actually took place. A tag at the beginning of the film states that it is a real story. Suave James Mason is a joy to watch paired against straight-laced Michael Rennie. Don't miss this one!

Greatly enjoyed this 1952 film which was very well produced and the wonderful photography through out Istanbul, Turkey was outstanding. The Nazi agents and British tried to keep tabs on a spy who was giving out very important information and was sometimes not believed by the German Government. James Mason,(Ulysses Diello),"Voyage of the Damned",'76, gave an excellent performance and had lots of fun changing light bulbs and taking fuses out of the fuse boxes and setting alarms off, giving the cleaning lady a hard time trying to vacuum the rugs! Michael Rennie( George Travers),"The Lost World",'60, was a British Agent trying to track down the SPY. Ulysses Diello at one point in the film went into a wild laughing spell that just could not STOP! This is a great James Mason film, ENJOY!

Though I've yet to hear a satisfactory explanation of the title (maybe it has something to do with the digits necessary to open a safe), that's the only thing I can fault with this superb thriller. It's roughly based on a real incident in WWII, how rough doesn't matter; if it didn't happen exactly this way, it should have.

James Mason has never put to better use his by turns servile and arrogant personae. He's an Albanian, personal valet to the British ambassador in neutral Turkey. He has a dream of a villa in Rio and to realize it he needs money. In his privileged position he can open the embassy safe (we never learn how he finagled the combination), photograph secret documents and sell them, after much initially suspicious resistance, to the German embassy.

He then convinces his former Albanian boss' wife, broke, to hold the money for him, using what she needs to keep court. He even convinces himself that he's won her over emotionally, too.

The twists and turns that follow as he's almost caught by the British authorities keep the film hopping along at a tense pace. The ending is Hollywood irony at its best. Totally unexpected.

Look for it where you can. It rarely pops up on TV anymore.

Ankara, 1944. The valet to the British Ambassador to Turkey starts selling military and diplomatic secrets to the Germans. If acted upon, some of these secrets could change the course of the war.

Largely based on actual events, the basic plot to the movie was very intriguing and the movie had the potential to a be a tense espionage-drama classic. There is a degree of intrigue throughout the movie but, other than the final few scenes, it is never that tense and is never compelling viewing.

The main problem is that the main character, Cicero, is not that engaging. James Mason does well in the role but it is not the performance that leaves you cold. It is the fact that he's not someone you want to support: he's a spy, a spy for money, and he's spying for the Nazis. There's not that much to like about him.

The writer and director try to colour Cicero's character by introducing a love interest but all that does is slow the momentum of the film. You'll have a reasonably intriguing plot development, piquing your interest, followed by a romantic scene which is dull and is just filler.

This all said, the final few scenes are quite exciting and there's a good twist right at the end. The final few scenes turned what was an uneven, dull movie into a watchable one.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Academy Award-nominated "5 Fingers" strikes me as the sort of movie that set the stage for the direction that spy movies would take over the next decade or two. James Mason plays Diello, a valet for the British ambassador in neutral Turkey during WWII. He decides to become a double agent for Germany, and employs a refugee countess (Danielle Darrieux) in his handiwork. But there's more than meets the eye.

The fact that this was a true story should alone be enough reason to watch the movie. But the cinematography (filmed in the locations where the story took place, no less) and soundtrack - by Bernard Herrmann of "Psycho" fame - give the movie an intensity that few movies have. Indeed, because of how the story gets told, we root for Diello to successfully carry out his morally questionable deeds (much like how Alfred Hitchcock plays with the audience in "Psycho"). And I did not see that ending coming.

I wouldn't go so far as to call the movie a masterpiece, but it's a movie that I recommend seeing. Both a look at the cynicism of international relations, and the eerie setting hint at the sorts of things that the James Bond movies would depict a decade later. Good one, with outstanding performances by all the cast members. I can't believe that I'd never heard of Danielle Darrieux until she died last year.

James Mason stars in this film about stealing state secrets. Mason's character, Diello, is the valet to the British ambassador to Turkey. But he hates the British and steals classified documents from the ambassador's safe by photographing them. He offers them to the Nazis, who buy them, but doubt their veracity. Diello, as played by Mason, has all the oily charm of a man who wants to be a "gentleman." His opposite number, Moyzisch, the German attaché, is portrayed as something of a bumbler. But Franz von Papen, the German ambassador to Turkey, is portrayed as smart and impatient with the incompetents around him. The story is based on a post-war memoir by German attaché L.C. Moyzisch, who had dealings with the British embassy spy.