The Secret War of Harry Frigg

Production: Universal/Albion. Director Jack Smight; Producer Hal Chester; Screenplay Peter Stone, Frank Tarloff; Camera Russell Metty; Editor Terry Williams; Music Carlo Rustichelli; Art Director Alexander Golitzen, Henry Bumstead
Crew: (Color) Widescreen. Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1968. Running time: 110 MIN.
With: Paul Newman Sylva Koscina Tom Bosley Andrew Duggan John Williams Werner Peters

The Secret War of Harry Frigg is an amusing World War II comedy starring Paul Newman as a dumb army private sent to rescue five Axis-held Allied generals. Strong story premise, excellent supporting cast and generally good dialog work to smooth over sometimes static direction and sluggish pacing.

Frank Tarloff’s original story, scripted by author and Peter Stone, concerns the exploits of the title character as he effects the eventual rescue of five top brass from Italian-German incarceration. Newman plays a perennial goof-off, who achieves a measure of self-confidence and maturity under pressure. Sympathy is with him all the way.

Carrying the main comedy load are the five captured generals – Andrew Duggan, Tom Bosley, John Williams, Charles D. Gray, Jacques Roux – plus their Italo captor, Vito Scotti, and James Gregory, the US general.

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There are many smiles, and some strong laughs, in the pic, result of which audience will probably emerge feeling lifted, if never consistently nor hilariously diverted.

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