The Forbidden Territory

"The Forbidden Territory" was written by Dennis Wheatley and published by Hutchinson in 1933. This was Wheatley's debut published novel and was an instant success. Translated in a number of languages and Alfred Hitchcock quickly bought up the film rights. [cite web | title=Dennis Wheatley bio & works list | url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~embden11/Engels4/wheatley.htm | accessdate=2006-12-13]

Plot summary

The Duc de Richleau receives a scrappy letter that is a code from his missing friend the young American Rex Van Ryn who, while hunting for treasure lost in the Soviet takeover of Russia, is now in prison in a jail somewhere in that vast country. He shares the letter with another young friend, Simon Aron, who agrees to accompany him in looking for their friend.

They travel to Moscow separately, and reunite one cold winter morning. Aron had met a famous Russian soprano in London and begins an affair with her in Moscow, much to the chagrin of her watcher, a Soviet official. Eventually she obtains through her watcher the location of Rex, who is in a prison 2 days to the east of Moscow in exchange for a guarantee that Simon will leave Moscow within the day.

So they book a train for a 7 day trip far to the east, but the morning after they board Simon feigns illness. The Duc, who grew up in Russia and therefore speaks Russian, befriends the porter and the following morning persuades him to allow them to secretly leave the train just before it enters a station in order to save the rapidly ailing Simon's life.

They are followed off the train, but they are armed as the Duc smuggled 2 pistols along with 50 Hoyo de Monterrey cigars into the country through the British embassy. They kill their pursuer and hide him in an old tool shed where they hope he will not be discovered until the spring thaw. By this time the train has gone and they enter the small town. Entering a café they discover the train that goes up to the north will only take them part of the way, as the town they want is in forbidden territory. The train leaves at lunch time, so they wait until the last minute before attempting to buy tickets, which they successfully do after paying 3 times the set price. As they arrive in the new town dusk is approaching. They go to a hotel and ask about hiring a carriage to take them but there are none available. they set off for the town's other hotel but come across another carriage which an official is just getting out of. "Please hire it to us", asks the Duc, but when he refuses they take it by brute force and race out of town on the road north. They keep going till midnight when they find shelter in the hovel of a man who owns the boat to cross the river. Finally the next afternoon they arrive in the town where Rex is a prisoner.

Finding shelter in a synagogue they find Rex the next day. The only security in winter is that the prisoners have no boots and none are from the local town so with the aid of his companions Rex escapes that night in a horse and carrigae that the Duke and Simon have stolen. They keep the carriage driver prisoner but he escapes with the carriage when they are taking a break and so they are stranded in deepest Russia.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The novel was bought for adaptation to film by Alfred Hitchcock. This appeared in 1934 and distributed by Gaumont-British Picture Corporation. It starred Gregory Ratoff, Ronald Squire, Binnie Barnes and was directed by Phil Rosen [{cite web | title=The Forbidden Territory - NYTimes review | work=NYTimes Movie Reviews | url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=92046 | accessdate=2006-12-13]

Footnotes

References

*cite book | title=The Forbidden Territory | last=Wheatley | first=Dennis | authorlink=Dennis Wheatley | publisher=Hutchinson | location= | date=1933