"The Ministry of Fear" is one of Graham Greene's most entertaining "entertainments," but it gets only a mildly engaging adaptation in this screen version directed by Fritz Lang.
The film probably called out to be directed by Carol Reed, the best man for bringing Greene to the screen ("The Fallen Idol," "The Third Man"), but one would have thought that Lang would be a worthy runner up given his proved track record for bringing suspenseful and playful noirs to movie audiences. And "Ministry of Fear" isn't a bad movie, it's just somewhat lacklustre. The major elements from the novel are there, but they never cohere into the dazzlingly fun story Greene gives us in the book. The seance, for example, which is one of the most memorable set pieces in any of Greene's works, exists in the film as a device for moving along the plot.
Ray Milland is pretty decent in the principal role; he's got that dark and slightly brooding look that you picture when imagining any number of Greene protagonists. And Dan Duryea does duty as, what else, an unctuous villain.
Grade: B
The film probably called out to be directed by Carol Reed, the best man for bringing Greene to the screen ("The Fallen Idol," "The Third Man"), but one would have thought that Lang would be a worthy runner up given his proved track record for bringing suspenseful and playful noirs to movie audiences. And "Ministry of Fear" isn't a bad movie, it's just somewhat lacklustre. The major elements from the novel are there, but they never cohere into the dazzlingly fun story Greene gives us in the book. The seance, for example, which is one of the most memorable set pieces in any of Greene's works, exists in the film as a device for moving along the plot.
Ray Milland is pretty decent in the principal role; he's got that dark and slightly brooding look that you picture when imagining any number of Greene protagonists. And Dan Duryea does duty as, what else, an unctuous villain.
Grade: B