Sadly Over-hyped

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Admirable film.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

THE CLOUDED YELLOW is nothing more than a re-staging of Hitch's THE 39 STEPS, although not without merit for this thriller genre of film-making. What I particularly liked about it is how deceptive it starts off: former secret agent Trevor Howard gets a job cataloguing butterflies for some eccentric old country bumpkin, before falling in love with the man's fragile niece (the ubiquitous Jean Simmons) and getting involved in a murder plot.The plot then becomes a chase narrative that takes in numerous locations around the UK: Newcastle, the Lake District, Liverpool, to name but three. I can't remember other British thrillers featuring so many different locations so this must have had a bigger budget than usual for the genre. The story is familiar but things don't get too convoluted, and the suspense remains strong from halfway through until the very end, which is highly satisfying.The cast is full of familiar faces with Andre Morell as the typically gruff secret service chief and Kenneth More as the likable agent giving chase. There are cameos for the ever-present likes of Richard Wattis and Sam Kydd, Geoffrey Keen plays a cop, and Maxwell Reed (Mr Joan Collins) a suave and sinister type. Howard and Simmons aren't my favourite of stars but they acquit themselves well with the material here and THE CLOUDED YELLOW as a whole is a watchable British thriller.

With having enjoyed seeing actors Jean Simmons, Kenneth More and André Morell appear in number of recent viewings over the last year all so,I was happy to find a title which starred all 3!,which led to me getting ready to find out how yellow the cloud could be.The plot:Badly failing his latest mission,British secret service agent Maj. David Somers is told that he must leave the world of espionage behind.Frustrated over no longer having any work,Somers decides to take a job cataloguing butterflies for Nicholas Fenton in his country house.Arriving at the mansion,Somers is introduced by Nicholas to his wife Jess,and their niece Sophie Malraux,who the Fenton's have been looking after,since the sudden death of her mum.Despite being told about her "issues" Somers finds himself falling in love for Malraux,and sticking up for her when farm hand Hick tries to push Malraux around.Waking up,Somers & Malraux discover to their horror that they will no longer be having any arguments with Hick's,due to him having been found dead,with Malraux knife in his back.Realising that someone is trying to frame Malraux for murder,Somers and Malraux decide to go on the run,in the hope of finding the real killer before the thunder clouds appear on the horizon.View on the film:Setting Somers & Malraux on the run,director Ralph Thomas (who after this would work again with producer Betty Box over 30 times!) and cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, (who was also the cinematographer for 2001: A Space Odyssey)give the filmed on location in the north of England outdoor scenes an atmospheric crisp appearance,which cast the title against an icy Film Noir backdrop,as Somers and Malraux find themselves having to go deeper into the countryside,as Somers former spying chums close in on them.Contrasting the chill from the outdoor scenes, Thomas and Unsworth turn the Fenton's country house into a haunted mansion,as stylish close-ups reveal the "ghost" haunting Malraux troubled memory.Giving the Fenton house a peaceful shell,the screenplay by Janet Green (a Film Noir by a women!) superbly chips away to show the darkness hiding within,as the Fenton's start to appear oddly keen over Malraux not being able to clearly remember about how her mum died.For the bubbling romance between Somers & Malraux,Green does very well at giving the relationship a smooth sweetness,which makes the rather sudden ending something that is easier to accept,as Somers shows Malraux how much she means to him.Chasing after Somers, André Morell gives a terrific performance as Secret Service Chief Chubb,with Morell showing Chubb to be oddly impressive by his former fellow spy Somers showing that he still knows how to use his former skills,whilst Kenneth More gives the flick a dash of charm as Willy Shepley.Entering the movie looking like a worn- down Film Noir loner, Trevor Howard gives a brilliant performance as Maj. David Somers,with Howard showing Somers relaxed manner to transform into a thrust to clear Malraux name,whilst the elegant Jean Simmons (who like the director,would work with Betty Box again for So Long At The Fair) tremendously shows Malraux fear in tracking down the killer in time,and remembering how her mum died,as the clouds start to part.

This film plays really well with an audience. Especially once the chase begins. Plus, Trevor Howard with his sensible, smart charms and Jean Simmons with her innocent demeanor and piercing eyes are terrific together.The film starts as a psychological drama but after the murder it segues into a chase thriller as the two leads head for the border. Some may think the chase is superfluous but actually the chase is essential because it aids in clearing the mind of the Jean Simmons character by getting her out of the oppressive household, plus it helps bring out the real killer - who is suddenly put into such a position that they have to finish the job. The killer rightly believed that once the Simmons character was arrested she would be put away. And it is true that her lack of control in the household - as well as evidence pointing her way - there is no way she would have gotten out of the murder charge. The chase that ensues helps bring out the truth.This is an entertaining film. Seek it out if you can find it.

A young woman (Jean Simmons) is convinced by her scheming and dangerous aunt (Sonia Dresdel) and uncle (Barry Jones) that she's losing her mind and in very delicate condition that requires their supervision which turns out to be more like manipulation, as they try to keep her as far away from outside human contact as possible. The only other person she sees is the estate caretaker, a lascivious character played by Maxwell Reed, whose caught the wayward eye of the middle-aged aunt. All of this, the aunt and the caretaker, the butterfly expert uncle who has a serious underside to him, and the susceptible niece in the middle, would have made for a darker and more sinister film. As it is, a frame-up for a murder sends Trevor Howard (a fired government secret service agent who took a job at the estate cataloging butterflies) and Simmons across the countryside escaping police, catching headlines of "Police Net Closing In" over her front page photo, hopping on buses, and winding up in Liverpool, where they meet some wonderfully cast characters, and finally face down the greedy and murderous aunt and uncle.