Orders to Kill (1958) Reviews

• A powerful movie with tremendous moral dilemmas & lessons to be contemplated

  Atty13372003-11-11

  This World War II movie has a realistic well written script, good acting and presents the viewer with a powerful moral dilemma to contemplate about war. Do you follow orders regardless of what your own observations suggest you do? I saw this movie 40 years ago and have never forgotten it. The tragedy is that it apparently did not have big promotional dollars behind it so has never reappeared. Nine stars out of ten.

• A memorable film about wartime morality.

  triviah2000-12-05

  This is a quietly gripping movie about a man ordered to kill a traitor in wartime France. The protagonist bonds with his quarry and his family and agonizes over following his orders to kill. To find out whether he kills the man and whether he is guilty or innocent you'll need to see this.

• Excellent film with some notable performances.

  dhughpitman2005-06-01

  This remarkable little film contains some excellent performances, the best of all coming from Irene Worth (Leonie, Paul's contact in occupied Paris), and from Leslie French as the suspected informer Lafitte. The musical score too is noteworthy, particularly when it picks up a nursery tune used by Paul to commit details of his mission to memory and amplifies it to emphasise the horrible consequences. The script and handling of Paul's doubts (brushed aside by Worth) and finally the completion of his mission are unforgettable. It should be noted that this is one of the best scripts from the film critic Paul Dehn - he also made a notable contribution to Jack Clayton's fine film "The Innocents".

• A great sleeper that you can't find

  afrederi-21999-05-11

  This movie used to be on television all the time. It disappeared several years ago and hasn't reappeared on the tube or in video. It's interesting for a lot of reasons. Two great actresses, Lillian Gish and Irene Worth, are in it. Some fine British character actors including James Robertson Justice are outstanding in it. It's a suspenseful film about World War II and the scenes in Paris are particularly gripping. I too would give a lot to see it and own

• Stirring

  luciferjohnson2004-03-02

  I've searched in vain for this very fine movie, which I saw many years ago and has clung firmly to my memory. It's about a cocky young soldier who is sent to kill a French collaborator. He later develops serious moral qualms about the mission. This film has a fine cast and has some very interesting touches. I am sure, for example, that those of us who have seen it still remember the collaborator's cat, who adds tremendously to the humanity of that character. At times, the tension and psychological pressure of this movie is almost unbearable. Filmed on location in Paris, I believe. The score, which also stands out in my memory, is melodramatic but appropriate.