Lisbon *** (1956, Ray Milland, Maureen O’Hara, Claude Rains) – Classic Movie Review 3643

Producer-director Ray Milland hires himself in 1956 to star his thriller Lisbon as an ex-US Navy ship’s skipper, now adventurer-smuggler, Captain Robert John Evans. With Lisbon, Milland moves into direction, the first of several offbeat, low-budget films including himself as the lead, notably The Safecracker (1958) and Panic in Year Zero! (1962).

Evans is paid by globe-trotting criminal Aristides Mavros (Claude Rains) to help free Sylvia Merrill (Maureen O’Hara)’s husband Lloyd (Percy Marmont) from the communists, who have kept him prisoner for two years. All fine and dandy, though in fact O’Hara has really paid Rains to kill the husband. There ensues a battle of suave wits between gentlemen crooks, set of course in Portugal.

Milland’s movie is a stylish, polished, twisting Fifties action adventure crime thriller with a satisfyingly tricksy, complicated plot in John Tucker Battle’s screenplay, picturesque location work attractively lensed in Trucolor by Jack A Marta in beautiful Portugal, a jaunty score by Nelson Riddle, and some lively acting, especially from the delectable Rains.

Also in the cast are Yvonne Furneaux, Francis Lederer, Edward Chapman, Percy Marmont, Jay Novello, Harold Jamieson, Robie Lester [Roby Charmandy] and Humberto Madeira.

Martin Rackin wrote the original story.

Lisbon is directed by Ray Milland, runs 92 minutes, is made by Republic Pictures, is released by Republic Pictures (1956) (US) and British Lion Film Corporation (1956) (UK), is written by John Tucker Battle, from a story by Martin Rackin, is shot in Trucolor by Jack A Marta, is produced by Ray Milland, is scored by Nelson Riddle, and is designed by Frank Arrigo.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3643
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