The List Of Adrian Messenger (1963)
B&W – 98m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Based On A Story By: Alec Coppel (uncredited) and Philip MacDonald (credited)
Screenplay By: Anthony Veiller
Exec. Prod.: Kirk Douglas (uncredited)
Dir.: John Huston
Starring: Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, George C. Scott, Dana Wynter, Clive Brook, Gladys Cooper, Herbert Marshall, Marcel Dalio, Bernard Archard, Tony Huston (as Walter Anthony Huston), Ronald Long (as Roland Long), Alan Caillou (uncredited), Tim Durant (uncredited), Bernard Fox (uncredited), Paul Frees (uncredited), John Huston (uncredited), Delphi Lawrence (uncredited), Jan Merlin (uncredited), Barbara Morrison (uncredited), Richard Peel (uncredited), Noel Purcell (uncredited), Anita Sharp–Bolster (uncredited) and Dave Willock (uncredited).
Music By: Jerry Goldsmith
A former intelligence officer is tasked by the heir to the Gleneyre estate to investigate the unusual deaths of a disparate group of eleven men on a list. Amusing little caper film is arguably one of the most scrutinized in Hollywood History, thanks in no small part to actor Jan Merlin’s claims (see trivia for details). While “who is under the makeup?” may be up for debate – shot to shot – the fact that this moves along at a good pace and has a decent storyline remains in tact. The cast and director, no matter how much or how little they are in the film, are appealing and in fine form.
Personal note: This reviewer is still impressed with the ending of this film, decades after seeing it at age 8.
Trivia: In an article for Video Watchdog Magazine actor Jan Merlin claimed that he played the heavily made up parts in the film, mostly standing in for Kirk Douglas. He further claimed that Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster and Frank Sinatra, doubled by Dave Willock, were never actually in the film and that they only filmed the “reveals” at the end of the film. He claimed to have used his experiences from this film for the reportedly thinly veiled novel: Shooting Montezuma: A Hollywood Monster Story, which he wrote. Elizabeth Taylor was reportedly offered a disguised role as a scruffy sailor named “Chesty” but turned it down known how painful the makeup would be. This film was partially shot on John Huston’s own estate in Ireland.
This was the final film of Clive Brook. John Huston cameos as Lord Ashton in a short dialogue scene in the last hunt. Paul Frees looped most of Jacques Roux’s dialogue in the film like, “thanks” when he accepts a drink from George C. Scott, this is attributed to sound issues on the set. He also provided a word or sentence (source depending) for Herbert Marshall. Frees is best known as the man who dubbed Tony Curtis’ Josephine voice in: Some Like It Hot (1959), since Tony Curtis couldn’t get his voice that high. This was the 4th of 7 films Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster made together. And finally: This film was spoofed in: Get Smart (1965–1970), Season 5, Episode 18: The Mess Of Adrian Listenger (1970).
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy
