The Key

Film

War films

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Time Out says

Extraordinary, unwieldy World War II naval epic which fails to deliver as much as it promises, but promises so much as to be worth while none the less. Swiss waif Loren shelters and succours a succession of war-weary tugboat captains who are never quite sure whether she's a goddess or a whore, an island of love in the cold, cruel sea or a siren leading them on to their doom. Loren is excellent, and the film plays interestingly with the idea of a woman's mystery being the product of male prejudice and fear. But the dictates of the international box-office - lots of naval manoeuvres and a turgidly wooden American hero - result in a fascinatingly enigmatic melodrama being buried within a stolidly conventional war film.

Author: RMy

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Release details

UK release:

1958

Duration:

134 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

Carol Reed

Cast:

Carl Möhner, Irene Handl, Bryan Forbes, Noel Purcell, Beatrix Lehmann, Oscar Homolka, Kieron Moore, William Holden, Trevor Howard, Sophia Loren, Bernard Lee

Music:

Malcolm Arnold

Production Designer:

Wilfrid Shingleton

Editor:

Bert Bates

Cinematography:

Oswald Morris

Screenwriter:

Carl Foreman

Producer:

Carl Foreman

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Rated as: 0/5 (0 ratings)

  • Would also like to have The Key on DVD

    DW Sun Aug 17 2008
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  • I loved this film and would like to obtain it on DVD, Does anyone know if there is one.

    Dick Sat Aug 2 2008
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  • Great film and I would love to see it again. perhaps I should write to BBC and ITV to see if it is still available.

    Reg chiddick Sat Nov 3 2007
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  • I saw this film when it came out originally (which rather dates me) and it is the only time I have wanted to stand up in a cinema and shout at the actors. I wanted to shout 'don't give him the Key'. I have never seen it again on television or else where but would love to, if only to check whether it would have such a dramatic effect on my feelings. But I wuold also like to see if I still think it the great film that I did at the time. Does anyone know if it was ever brought out on video or DVD? Dick Sawdon Smith

    Dick Sawdon Smith Mon Sep 17 2007
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