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The Thief

1952· 85 minNR★ 6.3

From Harry Popkin Productions · United Artists

NOT A WORD IS SPOKEN!

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Where to watch

Not available to stream in US

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Synopsis

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.

Themes

Cast & crew

Directed by Russell Rouse

Images · 2

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Reviews · from TMDB members

CinemaSerf★ 7/10Nov 28, 2024

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 goi… Read more

ng 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.