Ministry of Fear (1944)
1944 · Feature film · 86 min · dir. Fritz Lang
Thrilling drama of the Invisible Network of Terror!
- Thriller
Synopsis
Stephen Neale is released into WWII England after two years in an asylum, but it doesn't seem so sane outside either. On his way back to London to rejoin civilization, he stumbles across a murderous spy ring and doesn't quite know to whom to turn.
Synopsis from TMDb
Details
- Director
- Fritz Lang
- Writer
- Seton I. Miller
- Composer
- Victor Young
- Cinematography
- Henry Sharp
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Released
- 1944-05-19
- Running time
- 86 minutes
Cast & crew
Fritz Lang Director
Ray Milland
Marjorie Reynolds
Carl Esmond
Hillary Brooke
Percy Waram
Dan Duryea
Alan Napier
Erskine Sanford
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★★ · Refreshing WWII European Spy/Espionage Noir. · Jeremy Rich701 · 2026-06-10
Im going to watch this one again, and im considering reading the book. It'll be interesting to compare the two. The lighting and cinematography stood strong through the film. The séance scene captured the unease and uncertainties of the time. The climactic ending, in the room, was shot and captured beautifully. Also using the noir darkness, and a single gunshot, to capture the tension. True artistry.
★★★ · A real sleeper · berger meister · 2026-01-10
This was a very good film that I stumbled upon, and was quite pleasantly surprised.No idea what Dan Duryea was doing in this film, as his normal nastiness was not put to good use. Alfred the Butler was also wasted as one of the Nazi spies. Otherwise, a solid performance by Milland and his female co-star.
