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The Thief

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6.2/10 • 33

1952-10-151h 25m

CrimeThriller

NOT A WORD IS SPOKEN!

A chance accident causes a nuclear physicist, who's selling top secret material to the Russians, to fall under FBI scrutiny and go on the run.

Directors
Russell Rouse
Writters
Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene
Editors
Chester W. Schaeffer

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Ray Milland

    Ray Milland

    Allan Fields

  2. Martin Gabel

    Martin Gabel

    Mr. Bleek

  3. Harry Bronson

    Harry Bronson

    Harris

  4. Rita Vale

    Rita Vale

    Miss Philips

  5. Rex O'Malley

    Rex O'Malley

    Beal

  6. Rita Gam

    Rita Gam

    The Girl

  7. John McKutcheon

    John McKutcheon

    Dr. Linstrum (uncredited)

  8. Joe Conlin

    Joe Conlin

    Walters (uncredited)

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Nov 28, 2024

7/10

Ray Milland is on good form in this cold war thriller. He's scientist "Fields" who is providing photography of secret formulae to his foreign paymasters. Is this voluntarily or is he being blackmailed? Well the next ninety minutes sees him illustrate quite a degree of personal conflict as he delivers more and more information to the enigmatic "Mr. Bleek" (Martin Gabel) whilst becoming increasingly disgusted with his own behaviour. He takes to heavy drinking but that isn't going to help him when one of his couriers is accidentally killed and the FBI find evidence of espionage. His paranoia is well founded as they start to put together a list of possible traitors - and he knows he is going to be on it. What makes this drama all the more tense is the complete lack of dialogue. Nope, not a word is spoken as Herschel Burke Gilbert's score is left to do all the heavy lifting, and it does it well. It helps develop senses of tension, frustration, fear and panic whilst Milland, and the frequent use of the telephone ringing, delivers quite a palpable sense of desperation as the drama unfolds. I can't stay I loved the denouement, but it's simplicity; the tautness of the direction and the uncertainty as to the culpability of the perpetrator all adds up to quite an intriguing watch.

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  • The Thief poster
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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
espionagecold warfilm noir