Top Secret (1952 film)
| Top Secret | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Mario Zampi |
| Starring |
George Cole Oskar Homolka |
Production company | |
Release dates | 1952 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £133,313 (UK)[1] |
Top Secret is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and starring George Cole, Oskar Homolka and Nadia Gray.[2] A sanitation inspector is mistaken for an international spy. The film was known in the U.S. as Mr Potts Goes to Moscow.[3]
Plot
George Potts, a plumber in a top secret government research plant, accidentally comes into possession of the plans for a revolutionary atomic weapon. As George leaves for his annual holiday, the research security team embarks on a nationwide search for the hapless 'sanitary engineer.' Meanwhile, the Russians get wind of the incident and intercept George, plying him with liquor and employment promises so that he'll hand over the plans to them. All the while, George never knows what the fuss is about: he thinks that the British and Soviet authorities are interested in his new plans for a modern plumbing system. The Russians offer him a job in the Kremlin doing research (on plumbing, he believes),and while there he falls in love with secret agent Tania, and discovers the true nature of the plans he is carrying. [4][5]
Cast
Main cast
- George Cole - George Potts
- Oskar Homolka - Zekov
- Nadia Gray - Tania Ivanova
- Frederick Valk - Rakov
- Wilfrid Hyde-White - Sir Hubert Wells
- Geoffrey Sumner - Pike
- Ronald Adam - Barworth Controller
- Ernest Jay - Prof. Layton
- Edwin Styles - Barworth Superintendent
- Richard Wattis - Barnes
- Michael Medwin - Smedley
- Kristina Summerfield - Cecilia
- Irene Handl - Mrs. Tidmarsh
- Phyllis Morris - Mrs. Tweedy
- Charles Goldner - Gaston
- Ina De La Haye - Madame
- Ronnie Stevens - Aubrey
- Olaf Pooley - Professor Roblettski
- Kynaston Reeves - Barworth Director
- Frederick Leister - Prime Minister
- Henry Hewitt - Minister of Health
- Gibb McLaughlin - Schoolmaster
- Michael Balfour - Jersey Sailor
- Christopher Lee - Russian Agent
Supporting cast
- Walter Horsbrugh - 1st Cabinet Minister
- Anthony Shaw - 2nd Cabinet Minister
- Tim Turner - 1st Reporter
- Hal Osmond - Jersey Waiter
- Myrtle Reed - Jersey Air Hostess
- David Hurst - Deutsch
- Bernard Rebel - Trubiev
- Guido Lorraine - 1st M.V.D.
- Terence Alexander - 2nd M.V.D.
- Richard Marner - Russian Sentry
- Martin Boddey - Russian Security Officer
- Gerard Heinz - Russian Director of Plant
- Fred Berger - Russian Doctor
- Victor Maddern - British N.C.O.
- Reed De Rouen - 1st U.S. Soldier
- Johnny Catcher - 2nd U.S. Soldier
- Willoughby Gray - British Officer
Cameo/Uncredited cast
- Christopher Lee - Russian Agent
- Stanislaus Zienciakiewicz - Joseph Stalin
Critical reception
- The New York Times noted, "as long as the action stays this side of the Iron Curtain, the production is enjoyable—and understandable — but once entangled with the enigma of Communist rule, the farce ends." [6]
- Allmovie wrote, "no one takes Top Secret seriously--certainly not Oscar Homolka, who delivers a bravura performance as a Russian secret agent who wistfully yearns for the glories of the Czarist days." [4]
References
- ↑ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p499
- ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | TOP SECRET (1952)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
- ↑ O. A. G. (1953-09-03). "Movie Review - Mr Potts Goes to Moscow - 'Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow,' an Import". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
- 1 2 allmovie
- ↑ "Top Secret (1952) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- ↑ O. A. G. (1953-09-03). "Movie Review - Mr Potts Goes to Moscow - 'Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow,' an Import". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.