Tyrone Power works for the US State Department as a courier. His job is to carry documents safely from one point to another. He's sent by the Army on a mysterious trip to Europe to pick something up from an American agent, but the agent is killed and the document at issue disappears. Nobody knows what's up, not the Army, not the State Department, not Power, not even the viewer. The Army then sends him as "bait" for the commies, to Trieste, then part of Jugoslavia, where he meets Patricia Neal, who appears to be a horny aristo, and Hildegard Knef, looking mighty fine but always, well, "gespannt." The problem is that Tyrone Power is not a secret agent, not even a flagrantly obvious agent. As Power describes his job, he's just a reliable State Department "postman." He's reluctant to undertake the task of being the bait and trying to recover the missing goods but he attacks the task earnestly enough, wending his way through a flurry of enigmatic messages and weird characters wearing a dozen wrist watches at once. If you think this description is confusing, wait until you see the movie.The plot may be a little intricate but it's thought provoking too. How would you like to be a diplomatic courier, entrusted with the safekeeping of world-shaking documents? That's one of the thoughts it provokes. I, for one, wouldn't like it because I'm constantly misplacing things. Never mind secret treaties and all that. Sometimes I have trouble remembering where I put my glass eyeball and prosthetic nose. At any rate his job puts him in contact with some curious and unexpected people. There's Charles Bronson as a commie goon, for instance. Then there's Lee Marvin as a baffled military policeman. Karl Malden is a savvy and helpful Master Sergeant. There's a female impersonator who does a dynamite Bette Davis. Then there are the two babes -- Neal and Knef -- and we know at once that ONE of them must be the femme fatale. It's true that Knef is German and that in 1952 Germans still made convenient villains but she has an endearing lisp in her husky voice -- "Pleathe come in, Mithter Kellth." Patricia Neal is an American but she goes around in a constant state of oestrus, practically inviting intromission on a nightclub floor, the slut. Both display facets of the stereotypical villain.The plot engine is the momentous document. No power on earth could force me to reveal which side gets it but I guess it's okay if I proffer the hint that we get it. It's an abstruse narrative whose sense is only picked up gradually but there is plenty of action as well -- fist fights, drugging, attempted drownings, murders, the brandishing of weapons, and wearing white after Labor Day. I enjoyed it, and most people will probably be entertained by it.

a film who can be discovered as an admirable work. for the precise image of Cold War spirit. for the web-story. and for courageous option for cast members. a film who reminds more than an action subject. it is charming, mysterious and well made. it is a special embroidery of relations and choices, not perfect but interesting to discover an another Tyron Power. it has sensuality and explores the each detail in an inspired manner. and, sure, it represents vehicle for many memories . a thriller in old great style who can not be reduced at artistic value. the atmosphere, the small things who creates it are precious. and the remarkable cast. because, like each war, it could be a film about present reality.

Diplomatic Courier is directed by Henry Hathaway and adapted by Casey Robinson and Liam O'Brien from the novel Sinister Errand written by Peter Cheyney. It stars Tyrone Power, Patricia Neal, Hildegard Knef, Stephen McNally and Karl Malden. Music is by Sol Kaplan and cinematography by Lucien Ballard.Power plays Mike Kelly, a Department of State courier who ends up in a nest of intrigue and murder in Trieste when he fails to collect a package from a colleague.A well constructed espionage yarn. Pace moves at a clip, the black and white photography giving it a semi-documentary feel, which in turn is at one with the Cold War cloud looming over plotting. There's the inevitable requests to suspend disbelief, but that's fine for the sub-genre spy seeking fan. Cast are good, with Power full of determination, Neal deliciously nutty, Malden energetic and the beautiful Knef hinting at the ability that was never realised. There's twists and turns and rocks to look under, while the good and bad guys are never easily identified. All good, really, a safe and sound recommendation. 7/10

This espionage film is quite enjoyable and is truly a fascinating little curio from the Cold War. However, it also is quite silly at times and plays more like a comic book or perhaps a B-movie than a genuine thriller. While the performances are pretty good (in particular, I liked Karl Malden in one of his early roles), the writing isn't and often credibility is simply thrown out the window--with Power playing the part more like he's in an Indiana Jones movie than a spy picture.Power plays a diplomatic courier who is sent to Salzburg to receive some information. Unfortunately, the man he is supposed to meet is murdered and Power isn't sure what to do next. The US army encourages him to go on a spy mission--not because they believe Power will complete it, but because they think the bad guys will tip their hand while trying to kill Power!! Sadly, they don't bother telling Power this and he just seems to blunder into things.In the midst of all this are two ladies--one of which is OBVIOUSLY bad since they keep accidentally meeting and one is possibly on the side of good. These two subplots are the biggest problem with the film. With the first woman, it's obvious to everyone in the audience that she's evil--after all, despite Europe being very large, they just happen to meet again and again?! With the second, her role wasn't bad, but having Power jump into the thick of things to rescue her was just silly. Tyrone Power was a fine actor--but here they have him playing more of an action hero and it really made the film seem rather cheesy.Still, despite some plot problems, it's a decent little time-passer with an interesting glimpse into a part of our history you seldom see on film.