5 Fingers is a classic 1952 espionage thriller that combines a real World War II spy story with polished film noir storytelling. James Mason leads the movie as Ulysses Diello, an ambitious valet who secretly sells sensitive British information while planning a very different future for himself.
Description
5 Fingers is a classic World War II spy thriller starring James Mason as Ulysses Diello, a valet working for the British ambassador in neutral Turkey. Behind his professional appearance, Diello has a dangerous secret plan: he photographs confidential British documents and sells the information to German officials. Diello is motivated less by political loyalty than by money and his desire to leave his life as a servant behind. He dreams of becoming wealthy and beginning a luxurious new life.
His plans become more complicated when Countess Anna Staviska enters the picture. Their relationship mixes ambition, attraction, secrecy, and mistrust while Diello continues taking increasingly serious risks. The movie is loosely based on the true story of Elyesa Bazna, who worked for the British ambassador to Turkey and secretly photographed classified documents during World War II.
Movie Details
- Title: 5 Fingers
- Year: 1952
- Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Screenplay: Michael Wilson
- Producer: Otto Lang
- Main Star: James Mason
- Runtime: About 108 Minutes
- Music: Bernard Herrmann
- Cinematography: Norbert Brodine
- Editing: James B. Clark
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Filming Style: Black and White
- Story Focus: Espionage, ambition and deception
Main Cast
| Actor | Character |
| James Mason | Ulysses Diello / Cicero |
| Danielle Darrieux | Countess Anna Staviska |
| Michael Rennie | Colin Travers |
| Walter Hampden | Sir Frederic Taylor |
| Oskar Karlweis | L. C. Moyzisch |
| Herbert Berghof | Colonel von Richter |
| John Wengraf | Count Franz von Papen |
How To Watch
Availability for a movie from 1952 can vary by country and service. Viewers should check licensed classic film streaming services, authorized digital rental stores, television channels or legitimate physical media releases. Because streaming catalogs change regularly, availability should be confirmed through an authorized provider in your region.
Story Summary
The story takes place in Turkey during World War II. Ulysses Diello works as valet to the British ambassador and has access to an environment where highly confidential government documents are handled. Diello realizes that this access could make him wealthy. He secretly photographs sensitive information and offers it to German representatives under the code name Cicero.
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