time waster! I was expecting something at least somewhat interesting, but all I got was a silly post war romance. Nothing of interest til the last few minutes. Give me "The Odessa File" anytime over this lame rubbish.
"Sniffing drainpipes and reciting the alphabet."
I disagree.
"The Odessa File" was a dull movie. Interesting topic, but bad adaptation. I only watched it, because I'm interested in Simon Wiesenthal.
However, "The Devil makes Three" is a fascinating post WW II movie. Similar to "The Search" by Fred Zinnemann or "The Big Lift", both with Montgomery Clift.
Everybody on the message board seems to be amazed that Gene Kelly has made a non-dancing and non-singing movie.
Well, he made quite a few: "The Black Hand", "The Happy Road", "The Cross of Lorraine", "North and South" (TV mini series), "Inherit the Wind", "Crest of the Wave" and his biggest non-dancing success: "The Three Musketeers" from 1948.
I concur with all you said, including disappointment at the adaptation of The Odessa File, (which in my humble opinion was superior to Forsyth's other good read, The Day of the Jackel.)
I catch The Devil Makes Three whenever it's on for two reasons: to see Pier Angeli, and because it's a "rubble movie" shot in Europe after the war.
From Trieste (Diplomatic Courier) to Berlin (A Foreign Affair), and covering all manner of film entertainment from comedy to spy thriller to war pic to crime drama, Rubble Movies are the neglected genre of a significant era in film.
Thanks for the tip. I will try to catch "Diplomatic Courier" on TCM.
One of my favorite rubble films is " Germany Year Zero" by Roberto Rossellini from 1948.
shareI think Gene Kelly is great in musical/dancing films. And while he does a credible job in dramatic roles such as this one, I do find his style a little bit wooden and dull for this genre.
shareI had heard not the term "Rubble movie" before. Interesting! What else can you tell me about this genre?