During the 1950s, the Cold War is pitting the USA and its allies against the USSR and its satellites. One such Soviet satellite nation, Hungary, arrests an American named Anderson, and charges him with spying. Communist Hungary is putting on a show trial which is broadcast internationally, to prove the hostile aims of aggressive American Imperialists. The heavily censored news from the trial in Budapest comes down the wire to the Paris office of the New York Herald-Tribune where editor-in-chief Nicholas Strang (George Sanders) anxiously awaits more details from his Budapest correspondent, Barker (Joseph Forte).
Strang assigns French journalist Jeanne Moray (Marta Toren), and the Paris-based New York Herald Tribune's top reporter, American Jimmy Race (Dana Andrews), to interview the Hungarian ambassador in Paris.
Unbeknownst to them, Hungarian agents clandestinely follow Jeanne and Race to the embassy. These agents follow Jeanne because while she was in Budapest, she was investigating a lead that could prove the Hungarian leadership is attempting a secret rapprochement with Yugoslavia's President Bros Tito, in defiance of the Soviet policy that banned its satellites from getting cozy with non-aligned Yugoslavia. If this information is true and can be proved, it could land the Hungarian leadership in hot water with the Soviets. That's why Hungarian agents shadow Jeanne and it could also be the reason why Hungary retaliated with a phony trial on spying charges against the American citizen Anderson.
When the Hungarian spy trial of Anderson ends, the verdict is 20 years in a hard labor camp. The Hungarian leadership vows to hang the next American spy caught in Hungary. The Hungarians also are interested in a Hungarian defector, Gabor Chechi, who escaped Hungary but is assumed to have been assassinated. The Hungarians suspect that Chechi remains alive somewhere in France and that reporter Jeanne Moray might know where Chechi is. Race makes the acquaintance of Jeanne, who is forced to suppress a white-hot news story about an impending Iron Curtain political conspiracy because she lacks proof.
When the newspaper's Budapest correspondent, Barker, ends up in a Budapest hospital after a heart-attack, editor-in-chief Nick Strang dispatches the paper's top reporter Jimmy Race to replace Barker, behind the Iron Curtain, on a fact-finding mission.
At great risk to himself, Race arrives in Budapest and that's when his nightmare begins.
Race investigates a meeting involving the Hungarian ambassador, and ferrets out the facts, sometimes right under the noses of the communist "damage control" experts. Strang chose Race partly because of his dedication to truth, and partly because Strang has designs on the gorgeous Jeanne, himself.
While on assignment, Race is framed for espionage, and it's up to Strang to try to free him.
A 1952 American Cold War film-noir directed by Robert Parrish, produced by Samuel Marx and Jerry Bresler, screenplay by William Bowers, adaptation by Walter Goetz & Jack Palmer White, based on the story "Trial by Terror" by Pauline & Paul Gallico, cinematography by Ray Cory and Burnett Guffey, starring Dana Andrews, Märta Torén, George Sanders, Audrey Totter, Sandro Giglio, Donald Randolp, Herbert Berghof, Ben Astar, Willis Bouchey, Earl Lee, and Pál Jávor. Screen debut appearance for Leon Askin. Released by Columbia Pictures. Last of three films for Georgiana Wulff, all in uncredited parts, released from 1950 to 1952.
Märta Torén makes her last American screen appearance, and later left the United States for Italy. The reasons for her departure are the accusations of communism on her husband, the screenwriter Leonardo Bercovici, her wish to raise her future child far from Hollywood and the weariness of not having been able to get better roles. Dana Andrews and Märta Torén previously starred in another Cold War thriller, "Sword in the Desert" (1949).
This is based on a serialized Saturday Evening Post yarn by Paul and Pauline Gallico, later a book "Trial by Terror" (1952). Phil Karlson was the original director, but was fired during filming.
Filmed on location in Paris and Budapest. Location filming in Paris was interrupted by Communist agitators who were intent on preventing filming. A clandestine East West border swap would also end the film "White Nights" (1985).
Jeanne's car is a 1951 Ford Vedette convertible. It was designed by Ford in the U.S. with a body style similar to the Mercury and was built in France by Ford SAF.
One of the more palatable anti-Red tracts of its era. This makes excellent use of authentic Parisian and Hungarian locations.
A decent Cold War noir thriller. Sanders carries the film in the workhorse role, and an unusual one for him as he's a good guy. The Cold War atmosphere was just right for these shadowy noir films of intrigue. This is a good representation of the times. Not great, but certainly interesting with a thrilling, if not surprising, conclusion to the film.