The Thief (1952 film)

Infobox_Film
name = The Thief


caption = The Thief DVD cover
director = Russell Rouse
producer = Clarence Greene
writer = Clarence Greene
Russell Rouse
starring = Ray Milland
music = Herschel Burke Gilbert
cinematography = Sam Leavitt
editing =
distributor = United Artists
released = October 15, 1952 (U.S. release)
runtime = 85 minutes
language = None
budget =
imdb_id = 0045230

"The Thief" is a 1952 black-and white Cold War spy film directed by Russell Rouse. The film is unique because there is no dialog spoken throughout the film.

Plot

Ray Milland plays Dr. Allan Fields a nuclear physicist who works for the Atomic Energy Commission in Washington D.C. Fields is also a spy working for an unnamed foreign power. Through a series of elaborate devices and plans, Fields takes secret photos of his top-secret work and passes the secrets, through a vast network chain in New York City, to an apparently enemy country. The latest canister of microfilm the doctor sends out is picked up by authorities after the courier is killed in a traffic accident in Central Park with the documents in his possession.

Fields comes under suspicion by the FBI. He, now scared and paranoid, stays overnight in a cheap hotel. He's waiting for a call on the hall phone to give him instructions on his next move. After he's finally contacted, he's tailed by an FBI agent to the Empire State Building. While at the observatory tower, the Fields meets his contact. The alert F.B.I. agent spots this and pursues Fields who climbs even higher, at one Fields fights of the agent cauing him to plummet to his death. He escapes the building with papers in hand that will get him out of the country. But he becomes shaken by the sight of the dead agent on the sidewalk. The doctor finally breaks down back in his hotel room after realizing what he has done and gives himself up to the F.B.I. the next day.

Reaction

The film received mixed reviews when released. Some found the film an effective film noir, while others found the lack of dialog a gimmick that wore out its welcome early in the film.

Featured cast

Awards