Tue 6 Mar 2012
A Movie Review by Walter Albert: PASSPORT TO SUEZ (1943).
Posted by Steve under Mystery movies , Reviews[6] Comments
PASSPORT TO SUEZ. Columbia, 1943. Warren William, Ann Savage, Eric Blore, Sheldon Leonard, Lloyd Bridges, Lou Merrill, Jay Novello, Sig Arno. Director: Andre de Toth. Shown at Cinevent 35, Columbus OH, May 2003.
This was Warren William’s eighth (and final) appearance as The Lone Wolf and the close-ups showed him looking haggard and worn. His urbane performance was professional but tired, and I’m chagrined to say that Eric Blore’s antics as Lanyard’s sidekick, Jameson, went a bit overboard in trying to compensate for William’s lethargy.
The film also suffered from the same flaw that beset the script for Cinecon’s Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back [last Labor Day], variations on the HIBK device in which a character (usually a supporting character) repeatedly falls into the same trap.
On the plus side, Sheldon Leonard played a suave cabaret owner (I wonder where the idea for that came from?) with connections on both sides of the law, and a trio of second bananas (Lou Merrill, Jay Novello, Sig Arno as Rembrandt, Cezanne and Whistler, respectively) showed a laudable attempt to raise the cultural level of the film.
Ann Savage was regrettably underused and Lloyd Bridges was a bland accomplice of the bad guys, in an early role for the actor.
Clearly, a disappointing entry in the series, but probably a better choice for the afternoon than either the Gildersleeve film or Henry Aldrich Haunts a House, the radio-based films that preceded and followed Passport.
Editorial Comment: Apparently the whole movie can be watched on YouTube, beginning with Part One here.
March 6th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Why is it guys named ‘The Lone Whatever’ always have a sidekick? Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose?
March 6th, 2012 at 11:13 am
I’ll concede on The Lone Ranger, but I counter with The Lone Eagle, the World War I aviator in the pulp magazines who I’m sure worked alone.
I also think that perhaps The Lone Wolf of the books worked alone, but I could easily be wrong about that. If he had a sidekick only in the movies, of which I’ve watched only a few, then I’m sure the answer to your question is, as so often was the case: Comic Relief.
Even if he wasn’t all that funny.
March 6th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Books can have a lone character because you have narration and can read the characters thoughts.
TV and film you have to have someone for the hero to talk to so you can explain the action and plot.
March 6th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Right you are on both counts, Michael. In the movies, though, not only is the sidekick there for the real sleuth to bounce ideas off of, but the sidekick therefore has to be a lot dumber than the detective, and in most cases, a LOT dumber.
March 6th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
The Lone Ranger is quite specific. Half dozen Texas Rangers are ambushed by the Butch Cavendish gang, all but one are killed. Tonto rescues and aids him in recovery, explaining what had transpired, and dubbing him, Lone Ranger. For whatever it is worth, The Lone Ranger’s name is John Reid. Whether or not Fran Striker had a political point to deliver is open to speculation.
March 6th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Yes, you’re right. He was the Lone Ranger not because he worked alone, but that he was the lone survivor of the Butch Cavendish attack. Nor was Tonto in any way dumber than the white man he rode with, an obvious exception to my previous comment!