Glucedee
It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.
ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
ChampDavSlim
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
evanston_dad
"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
Claudio Carvalho
In Lembridge, during World War II, the inmate Stephen Neale (Ray Milland) has just been released from the Lembridge Asylum after two years of compulsory confinement. While waiting for the train to London, Stephen visits a charity fair promoted by The Mothers of Free Nations and the clairvoyant Mrs. Bellane gives a tip to him and he receives a cake as a gift.In the train, Stephen shares his cabin with a blind man. Out of the blue, the man steals the cake and run through the field with Stephen chasing him. However, he hides in a house that is bombed by the airplanes and dies.In London, Stephen investigates The Mothers of Free Nations organization and he meets the siblings Carla Hilfe (Marjorie Reynolds) and Willi Hilfe (Carl Esmond) and Stephen goes with Willi to the house of Mrs. Bellane (Hillary Brooke), who is a different woman from the fair. She invites them to participate of a séance and a man is murdered. Stephen is accused and escapes, and Carla finds a hideout to him. Sooner Stephen finds that he is a pawn in a Nazi spy ring and he does not know who is trustworthy."Ministry of Fear" is film-noir of espionage by Fritz Lang with a man getting involved in a spy ring in London during World War II. The plot is only reasonable and the motivation for Stephen Neale to get further and further in his investigation is not clear since he had been advised to avoid problems with the police. Anyway the film is entertaining and for fans of Fritz Lang, it is worthwhile watching it. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Quando Desceram as Trevas" ("When the Darkness Has Fallen Down")
arijit-paul
The experience of watching the 'Ministry of Fear' is unique, since I have never come across such a cinema with such a minimalistic characterization. For each of the characters, we only know what is necessary for the sake of the plot; no additional information, about the characters, is provided. Take for instance the chief protagonist. We only know that he was sent to an asylum, for perpetrating mercy killing on his wife. In case of the lead female protagonist, we only know that she is the sister of the gentleman who runs a charitable society. The bookshop owner is shown to solely sell books, and no other detail is provided for the character. Such minimalistic characterization helped Lang to create a precise and extremely focused narration, without ever losing the intensity of the script. The lean script delineates the mystery and its subsequent revelation, without, ever, straying away from the core of the story. 'Ministry of Fear' reminds us of the power of the script in cinema, where, by simply narrating a crisp story, the director grips his audience's complete attention.
jotix100
Graham Greene's novels translated well into memorable films. "Ministry of Fear", the 1944 Paramount feature directed by Fritz Lang, united two creators that shared a lot in common. Seton Miller adapted the original material. The result is an interesting film that is not seen a lot these days, but serious fans of this genre will find pleasure in the way Mr. Lang tells this story of intrigue at the height of WWII in England.Stephen Neale has been sent to a mental facility after being found guilty of the mercy killing of his terminally ill wife. The Neales had come from South Africa hoping for the cure that never came. As he is about to be set free, the director of the asylum warns Neale to try to stay away from the police because with his record, any little thing will be held against him.As a way to spend some time before his train to London, Stephen discovers a sort of a benefit fair near the station. He goes looking to spend some time amusing himself, instead he finds himself in the middle of an international intrigue, although he has no inkling of what he is going about to embark. Visiting the clairvoyant, she gives him the solution for winning the cake at one of the booths. It also puts him in contact with a mysterious man that will prove to be key to the story.Stephen Neale finds out in the hard way he has gotten himself into unknown territory when the blind man traveling in his compartment tries to steal the cake Stephen won at the fair. It makes him wonder what was all the fuss about, but it is a little too late. Arriving in London he goes to get help from a private detective, when he tries to investigate the organization that sponsored the fair. Stephen Neale will get involved with a sinister group of people as well as with Scotland Yard.At the center of the action, Ray Milland had a chance to play the innocent man that is first accused of a murder, and then, plays into the spy ring operating behind the ladies' organization. His Stephen Neale is not as effective as Robert Donat, or a Cary Grant, but he gives a well felt performance. Marjorie Reynolds plays Carla, who becomes Stephen's love interest. Carl Esmond appears as Carla's brother, a man that had bigger designs for Neale. Hilary Brooke makes an intriguing Mrs. Bellane, and Dan Duryea does one of his sly heavies, something he played with panache. Alan Napier and Percy Waram are seen among the supporting cast.
