Review


Review: Our Man in Havana


Sir Alec Guinness is superb as a mild-mannered vacuum cleaner salesman living in Cuba, recruited by the Brits (chiefly the immaculately- but inappropriately- dressed Noel Coward) to spy for them as their operative in Havana. He’s completely clueless as to what this involves (and clearly in over his head), and decides to make up all of his supposed reports. His fantasies however end up having a life of their own and dangerous consequences, when people begin to take his lies seriously...deadly so. Burl Ives is Guinness’ German doctor friend who first gives Guinness the idea of inventing spy info and recruits. Sir Ralph Richardson is frightening as the gullible Secret Service boss, Maureen O’Hara is the fellow spy sent by headquarters, further complicating things for Guinness. Ernie Kovacs and Jo Morrow are somewhat unimpressive as a nasty Cuban copper and Guinness’ typically vacuous and bored daughter respectively. Look out for a terrific small turn by Paul Rogers as a dangerous rival operative.


Sometimes funny, sometimes frightening, but sadly, sometimes a little dull, this 1959 Carol Reed (“The Third Man”) spy satire gets a boost from several top-flight performances that make it good but not great. Guinness is ideal (both ingratiating and funny), Ives is a constant scene-stealer (as always), Coward appears to be having a ball, and Richardson and Rogers (both frightening, but for different reasons) are superb in smaller roles.


Unfortunately, the character played poorly by O’Hara (whom I’ve never liked) is dead weight the film doesn’t need, with neither Kovacs (apparently a comedian, but I wasn’t laughing at his tired Cuban caricature) nor Morrow bringing much to the party either, to be honest.


But for the most part, this is likeable, amusing, and even a little scary, actually. The screenplay is by Graham Greene himself (“The Third Man”, “Ministry of Fear”, “The Comedians”), from his novel, though it also somewhat resembles John Le Carre’s “Tailor of Panama” if you ask me.


Rating: B-

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