Movie Review: Ministry of Fear (1944)

Ministry of Fear (1944) directed by Fritz Lang

Stephen Neale (Ray Milland) is released from two years at a psychiatric asylum in rural England during World War II. He wants to live a quiet life but amid the bustle of war-time London. Before his train leaves, he visits the local fete where, through an odd visit with the fortune teller, he wins a cake by guessing the correct weight (which the fortune teller told him). The next guy goes to the fortune teller and clearly he was meant to get the cake because they have a very awkward scene. Neale takes the cake and gets on the train. He's joined by a blind man with whom he shares the cake. The blind man crumbles it up as if he's looking for something (and the audience sees that he isn't really blind). The train stops during a German bombing. The blind man breaks his cane over Neale's head and steals the cake. Neale chases him down but one of the bombs gets the blind man. Neale continues on to London where he investigates the fortune teller to try and find out what's going on. The situation only get more complicated from there.

This paranoid thriller is based on a book by Graham Greene, with the typical complications and ambiguities. Neale has stumbled into a Nazi spy ring, or so he thinks. He doesn't know who to trust and the audience is left guessing too. Director Lang's noir sensibilities only add to the atmosphere of unease and dread. The film is a very satisfying thriller.

Recommended.