5 Fingers
(a.k.a. "Five Fingers" and "Operation Cicero")

US (1952): Thriller/Spy

Joseph L. Mankiewicz directs this intriguing WW II story of a valet (James Mason) to the British ambassador to Turkey who uses his position to gain access to intelligence documents, which he sells to German agents. Mason is perfect as the suave, shifty traitor and the cinematography by Norbert Brodine enhances the tension of the final pursuit of Mason by both British authorities and German cutthroats. Cast also features Danielle Darrieux and Michael Rennie.

Based on a true story; the real Cicero was Elyesa Bazna, an Albanian. In his book, I Was Cicero (c. 1962), he retells the story, listing his collaborators as a chambermaid and his niece. The character of the countess was a Hollywood fabrication. Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. (20th Century-Fox) (amctv.com)

 View a clip from this film on YouTube.com.

2 nominations