kellie’s review published on Letterboxd:
This review may contain spoilers.
First off I always enjoy watching this film but it has some problematic aspects to it.
First off Orson Wells is playing a Nazi that seek anonymity but marries into a prominent New England family. He marries the daughter of a Supreme Court justice no less. However not much is made of this as it could have. The other problem is the character of Mary who marries Wells character played by Loretta Young and I think is miscast. She comes off as too sophisticated and worldly to be so easily manipulated by her husband. I think it’s also in the writing as he reveals things to her that should have given her some pause in defending him way too long . I think some different acting choices would have helped and a some slight alterations in the script. Teresa Wright would have been a more appropriate choice to play Mary .
The strength of the film is the cat and mouse game between hero Edward G. Robinson hunting down the Wells character and Wells himself who also directs the movie. Robison’s character also gains the help from Mary’s father and brother and longtime housekeeper.
The film also does a good job at showing some of the aspects of small town life and Robinson’s character makes use of it to lay the trap .
The set design and cinematography are key elements of the plot especially the town clock .
Suspenseful from start to finish.
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