Our Man in Havana

I had heard about this movie a long time ago and wanted to see it. But I haven't had the opportunity so far. In my chilldhood's Romania was considered dangerous to be showed. So, I was expecting something more and better, specially from Carol Reed, the maker of "Oliver!" and "The Third Man", two very good films. The story disappointed me, nothing extraordinary. A banal story about a vacuum-cleaners salesman who starts to lie everybody... Childish! Very good actors in the cast: Alec Guinness, Noël Coward, Ralph Richardson, Ernie Kovacs. The best are Ernie Kovacs and Noël Coward.

This afternoon I chanced upon this terrific film on Channel 4.I had seen it years ago as a child,and couldn't understand why my father kept referring to the brilliant " Our Man in Havana" Now I know what he meant.Alec Guinness hit the perfect note in the part,as he invariably did.Havana is rendered almost tangible by director Carol Reed, a difficult feat to achieve.The rest of the cast shine too.Ernie Kovacs makes a human being out of his police-thug character.The script seems almost improvised,so fresh , pointed and witty.Compare this movie to the bulk of today's garbage,and prepare to feel very let-down by what you can see at your local Multiplex.This strange and sharp movie has re-affirmed my intention to spend some time in Havana.Buena Vista Social Club first whetted my curiosity.This movie is timeless and a great 2 hrs of entertainment/art.Enjoy! And look at Maureen O ' Hara, is she not quite splendid? !

This superb noir comedy has wonderful depth and balance -- based on a fine novel, well-scripted, spectacularly well-lit and photographed, and vwey well performed, particularly by Alec Guiness and Ernie Kovacs, who was virtually as good an actor as he was a comedian. Havana itself is another major contributor to this masterpiece, shot at perhaps the peak period of its physical condition.

A GREAT MOVIE: classic performances, despite some miscasting with the women. The film never has any trouble deciding what it will be, despite the fact that some viewers seem put off by the shading of genres. Some of the comments above referring to a "weak" screenplay or Guinness's inability to fully develop the role only reveal how taste has changed over the years. This is classic British humor, of the black variety, very underplayed, as it always was done before the Brits succumbed to American taste. While his treatment is lighter than the book, Reed (a man, by the way, as others have noted) captures the wry cynicism of Greene perfectly. The film displays touches of the same sensibility that produced "The Third Man," which also contained humorous moments (The literary party for Holly Martins). Reed's juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy, while unsettling to some, is the essence of his profound commentary on "the spy game." As mentioned above, this deserves a DVD!!!

One of my favorite scenes is when Alec Guiness must get the chief of police (Ernie Kovacs) so drunk that he passes out. He arranges a game of checkers played with miniature bottles of scotch. You know,the kind served on airlines. Each time one is taken, it must be opened and drunk immediately. This leads to hilarious results. Guiness is excellent in the beginning for his famous "fusby" look. Meek, almost sheepish. Only when Kovacs is finally "knees up", can Alec Guiness complete his plan. (Watch the movie to see what this is!). This movie used to be a staple of late night television, before cable and the advent of talk shows, when movies reigned supreme. Of course, it was usually horribly butchered.