ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

I saw this movie many years ago on TNT (Turner Network Television) when it first went on the air, showing old movies the way TCM does today.

Robert Donat is amazing as a James Bond / Derek Flint super-spy, but his method includes the ability to take on the speech and characteristics of a foppish dandy, similar to Don Diego in Zorro — except that in this case he pretends to be brilliant Romanian chemist with skills the Nazis need.

The movie introduces Donat in a scene right after a bombing in London, and Donat calmly defuses an unexplored bomb while chatting with a injured child nearby in a hospital bed and the nurse who says the child can't be move.

You fall in love with this brave man right then and there.

The uniquely beautiful Miss Glynis Johns (just 20 years old) has a heart-rending scene as one of the all-female group of forced-labor workers in a defense plant, under the strict supervision of the cruel Nazi guards who shoot anyone suspected of sabotage. (And that's where the heart-rending part comes in . . . )

The British Intelligence's efforts to support Donat's mission into Germany are worthy of the Mission: Impossible folks. I was impressed by the clever scenes which showed us just how well Donat's important mission was planned.

But the climax of this amazing movie is pure "James Bond" at his best. Donat poses as a scientist and infiltrates a huge underground Nazi complex which is developing poison gas bombs.

The underground complex is amazing, a combination of stunning sets and impressive matte paintings.

* * * * * SPOILER ALERT BELOW IMAGES * * * * *













In true James Bond fashion, Donat uses several small explosive devices which he strategically places to blow up the entire complex while fleeing from the Nazis guards. He skillfully slugs anyone who gets in his way, and he frequently demonstrates his flawless marksmanship on the bad guys.

His mad dash through the concrete corridors to reach the massive steel doors before they slam closed while the underground complex explodes behind him is the kind of scene that became famous in Bond movies like Dr. No and You Only Live Twice

Watching Robert Donat fool all the folks with his slick impersonation of a comical Romanian chemist is a delight, and whenever he drops the act and swings into action, he's a very dashing hero!

The screen shots above are from this YouTube video.

_____________ The Adventures Of Tartu (1943


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However, the YouTube member who uploaded the video — The Film Detective — offers a reasonably priced DVD on Amazon.

The Adventures of Tartu (The Film Detective Restored Version



Oh, what the heck, I went ahead and ordered it! It has a Five Star rating and glowing customer reviews.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)