Though this film suffers from an obvious shortage of budget, it is worth seeing for the marvellous portrayal of the 'baddie' of the piece by Neil French. Like a latter day Sydney Greenstreet, he dominates the too few scenes in which he appears. Like Orson Welles in The Third Man he is a largely invisible, malignant, presence whose influence is felt throughout the drama. Unfortunately the script gives him no speeches of the weight of the 'Switzerland' speech in the Prater Amusement Park. Nevertheless he gives the lifeless scripted dialogue his all, and his eventual grisly end is as welcomed by the audience as it is by his adversaries within the film. It is a mystery that after this performance he disappeared from screens everywhere. One wonders what he would have made of the role of Hannibal Lecter for which he was, apparently an early nomination.
Review of Mission Manila
