正在同步电影信息
Atelephoneringsinthedark—threetimes,pauses,thenringsthreetimesagain.Afully-clothedfigurelightsacigarettebeforerisingfrombed,donsaraincoat,thensetsoutintothenight.Anotherfigureemergesfromtheshadows,lightsacigarette,thendiscardsacrumpledcigarettepack,whichthefirstpicksupandcarrieshome.Backinhisroom,thefirstmanplacestherefuseonhisdesk,pacesapprehensivelyabouthisapartmentbeforehefinallyremovestheinnerfoilandexaminesit.Afterlettingwhatitrevealssinkin,hesetsitonfire,andacoldlookcomesoverhisface...<br/> ThusbeginsTheThief,a1952coldwar,espionagethriller—uniqueinthatitiscompletelywithoutdialogue—directedbyRussellRouse,andproducedbyClarenceGreene,whoco-wrotethescreenplay.AllanFields(RayMilland)isanaward-winningnuclearscientistworkingattheAtomicEnergyCommissionresearchlaboratory.Heisalsoaspy,photographingtopsecretdocuments,thenrelayingtheminiaturefilmcanistersbackthroughanelaboratenetworktoenemyagentsinEgypt.Hissignalisthetelephone,andhisliaisonoutlineshisassignmentsthroughinstructionsonhiscigaretterefuse,withnaryawordspoken.Itisadangerousbusiness,andonethatcreatesmanyclosecalls—toocloseforcomfort.Whenoneofhisassignmentsgoesawry,theFBIbeginstoclosein,andtheraceisontoleavethecountrybeforeheiscaught.<br/> TheThiefhasallthetrappingsofclassicnoir.Producedattheheightofthe"RedScare,"thefilmmanagestomaintainaconstantstateoftension,relyingheavilyonreactionshotsandHerschelBurkeGilbert'srivetingmusicalscore.Thecinematographyheightenstheeffect,utilizinglightingandcameraanglestoconveytheunspoken.Milland,whowonanOscar®forhisroleinBillyWilder'sTheLostWeekend,carriesthepartofftoperfection,lettingtheaudiencereadhischaracter'sthoughtssolelythroughfacialexpressionandbodylanguage.Thedirectionalsofoolstheaudienceintoanticipatingdialogue,thencleverlyavoidingit.OnlytheOscar®-nominatedscoreandsoundeffectsbreakthesilence.<br/> Thisisafascinatinguseofvisualstotellastory,andagrippingsuspensefilm,whichheldmyinterestthroughout,andasidefromonesequencewhereFields'consciencebeginstoplaguehim,thenarrativeisfairlystraightforward,withoutmuchinthewayofgimmickry.Avoidthebackcovertextbecauseitgivesawaytheending,whichwastheonlypartthatdidn'treallyworkforthisreviewer.Forthoseinterestedincoldwar-erafilmnoir,thisiscertainlyworthalook,iffornootherreasonthanitsuniqueness.
