Plot: "It wasn't a particularly good story, but I liked the atmosphere of Berlin after the war, and I wanted to work again with James Mason." Thus did director Carol Reed explain his decision to return to thrillers with The Man Between. Unfortunately, political conditions forced Reed out of Berlin before shooting wrapped, compelling him to complete the picture in the studio. Even so, the story of East Berliner Ivo Kern (Mason) who rescues Susanne Mallison (Claire Bloom), a British woman trapped in the Soviet Zone, is a minor masterpiece of suspense. Despite great danger to himself, Kern takes it upon himself to escort Mallison back to her family in West Berlin. After a daring dash through the countryside, the seeming impossible is achieved—but only through a conspicuous act of self sacrifice. Never completely satisfied with The Man Between, Carol Reed grudgingly admitted "It made back its money."

Tags: based on novel, berlin, black market, british noir, post war, refugee, show all tags.