Film Overview"Lisbon" is a 1956 crime-adventure movie directed by Ray Milland and embeded in Portugal's capital, Lisbon. Milland also stars in the film along with Maureen O'Hara and Claude Rains. Thought about a technicolor drama, the movie showcases the stunning city, captivating the audience with its stunning vistas while providing a suspense-filled story.
PlotRay Milland includes as Captain Robert John Evans, an infamous sea smuggler understood for his malpractices but admired for his shrewd methods. His experiences lead him on a bold mission to rescue a rich industrialist. American oil magnate, Lloyd Merrill (Claude Rains), hires Evans to save an old pal, a prominent yet politically controversial figure who's been captured and sent to prison somewhere in Eastern Europe.
Experience and MysteryThe operation is certainly risky which too, thinking about the hidden nature of the rescue. Nevertheless, Evans accepts it, driven by two essential factors - a significant benefit assured by Merrill and the appeal of a mystical lady, Sylvia Merrill (Maureen O'Hara). Sylvia is the apparently unfaithful wife of Lloyd Merrill, whose flirty nature and dubious actions make her a questionably credible character.
Loosening up TwistsA huge part of the movie unfolds the weaves in this risky mission, woven with suspicion, risk, experience, and sometimes, humor. The difficulty is additional fueled by the reality that not everybody in Merrill's circle desires the political detainee to be freed. This leads to some awesome sequences where the captain's ship is sabotarked and he needs to find a way to repel attacks, cook up fast strategies while Mitzi Gaynor, who represents a nightclub singer, supply technical interruptions.
Throughout the film, Evans discovers himself caught in between his commitment to the mission, his fascination with Sylvia, and the reality, which unveils bit by bit.
ResolutionThe suspenseful narrative concludes with the successful completion of the rescue mission, and a surprise twist in the romantic angle. Despite the threat and barriers, with his incredible improvisational skill, Evans manages to free the political detainee. On the other hand, it's exposed that Sylvia was not having an affair after all, and she had just been pretending in order to secure her partner's interests.
Conclusion"Lisbon" packs experience, thriller, a little love, and the splendour of the city into its story. The efficiencies of Milland, O'Hara, and Rains, combined with the well-executed narrative, make this film an engaging watch. Although it does not bring an overtly deep or thought-provoking story, it offers a good mix of elements that keep the audience hooked, all the while enhancing the vintage appeal of the lovely city, Lisbon.
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