Operation Amsterdam ** (1959, Peter Finch, Eva Bartok, Tony Britton, Alexander Knox) – Classic Movie Review 9145

Co-writer/ director Michael McCarthy’s 1958 Operation Amsterdam is a decent though low-tension real-life World War Two action drama about British-Netherlands trio Jan Smit (Peter Finch), Walter Keyser (Alexander Knox) and Major Dillon (Tony Britton) linking up with Dutch Resistance worker Anna (Eva Bartok) in Holland to snatch $10 million in industrial diamonds away from the Germans.

Based on the book Adventure in Diamonds by David E Walker, this promising idea gets uninspired but thoroughly professional work in all departments, including well-crafted direction and sincere performances.

It just lacks a bit of extra style and imagination that would make it stand out for the crowd.

Also in the cast are Malcolm Keen, Tim Turner, John Horsley, Melvyn Hayes, Christopher Rhodes, Alfred Burke, Tim Turner, Carl Jaffe, Keith Pyott, Oscar Quitak, George Pravda, Arnold Marlé, Peter Swanwick, John Bailey, Lex Goudsmit, Max Croiset, Petra Davies, John le Mesurier, Frederick Schiller, John Richardson and Karel Stepanek.

Operation Amsterdam is directed by Michael McCarthy, runs 105 minutes, is made by The Rank Organisation and Maurice Cowan Productions, is released by Rank Film Distributors (1959) (UK) and Twentieth Century Fox (1960) (US), is written by Michael McCarthy and John Eldridge, based on the book Adventure in Diamonds by David E Walker, is shot in black and white by Reginald H Wyer, is produced by Earl St John and Maurice Cowan, is scored by Philip Green and designed by Alex Vetchinsky.

The producers credited the co-operation of the Royal Netherlands navy and the civic authorities of Amsterdam and Ymuiden.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9145

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