In 1960 Vienna, after Soviet tanks crush the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, American adventurer Michael Reynolds (Richard Widmark) is hired by an international espionage ring to smuggle a noted scholar and resistance leader, Professor Jansci (Walter Rilla), out of Communist-ruled Hungary. Reynolds goes to Vienna to see the professor's daughter, Julia (Sonja Ziemann), and he persuades her to accompany him to Budapest. Once there, Reynolds is kidnapped by "freedom fighters" who take him to the professor's secret headquarters.
Meanwhile, one of Jansci's trusted aides is captured by the Hungarian Secret Police and forced to reveal the professor's hiding place. Reynolds, Julia, and Jansci are quickly rounded up and taken to Szarhaza Prison, where they are tortured by the sadistic Colonel Hidas (Howard Vernon).
They are rescued by a resistance fighter known as The Count (Charles Régnier), who tricks the Communists into placing the prisoners in his custody. At the last moment the ruse is discovered. The Count is killed as the other three race to the airport where a chartered plane is waiting. Hidas pursues them but is killed in an accident on the runway. Safe at last, Reynolds, Julia, and the professor leave Hungary.
The film was based on Alistair MacLean's novel The Last Frontier which was published in the US as The Secret Ways.[2]
Actor Richard Widmark moved into producing in the 1950s while making Time Limit.[3] His production company, Heath Films, bought the screen rights in March 1959.[4] Widmark called it "an anti-Communist thing" which "had nothing to do with my [personal] politics."[5]
In August 1959 Heath Films signed a two-picture deal with Universal, the first of which was to be The Secret Ways.[6] Other books Widmark wanted to film were The Wounds of Hunger and The Seven File.[7]
Widmark visited Austria with his wife Jean Hazlewood, who would write the script. They did considerable research and made a significant number of changes to the novel.[8]
In May 1960 Phil Karlson signed to direct. Karlson went to Vienna on June 1, and filming began in August.[9] Many local Austrian actors were cast in support roles.[10]
Karlson says Widmark hired him on the basis of The Phenix City Story because "he wanted to try to get realism in it" and the director told him "I wanted to do it as a James Bond. But he hadn't heard of James Bond. I said, "If we do this tongue in cheek, we'll be the first ones." He said, "No, I don't want to do it that way"." Karlson says he left for the last week of filming. Years later, after Karlson made The Silencers, a Bond-style spoof, he says Widmark tried to get him to do three more pictures. The director said, "He realized we'd have had, maybe, the first picture that would have taken him out of the role of the guy who kicks the old lady down the steps."[12]
Widmark had a series of movies in development as a proposed follow-up.[13]
^SECRET WAYS, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 28, Iss. 324, (Jan 1, 1961): 84.
^THE BOOK REPORT: Espionage Story Delves Deep
Kirsch, Robert R. Los Angeles Times 8 Apr 1959: B5.
^The Private Life of Richard Widmark Is Private: Richard Widmark
By DICK ADLER New York Times 7 Mar 1971: D17.
^LAST MILE' CREDIT IS BASIS FOR SUIT: John Wexley Seeks $150,000 From Film Producers -- Widmark Buys Novel
By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 20 Mar 1959: 26.
^Rerunning Widmark: The cackling killer's quiet now: The cackling killer's quiet now
Siskel, Gene. Chicago Tribune 10 June 1973: f3.
^CAPITOL THEATRE TO BE RENOVATED: Modern Design With Fewer Seats Planned -- Filming Completed on 'Spartacus'
By RICHARD NASON. New York Times (12 Aug 1959: 33.
^Boroff Activates Season at Circle: New Plays Emphasized, With Four to Be Sponsored by Club
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 17 Nov 1959: C9.
^Mandelsohn, Harold (13 November 1960). "SPOTLIGHT ON 'SECRET': Austrian Landscape Adds Its Realism To Drama of Hungarian Refugees". New York Times. p. X9.
^New Pictures Get Go-Ahead Signals: Karlson, Levin Will Direct for Widmark and Pasternak
Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 18 May 1960: A11.
^Seasoned Viennese Players Lined Up: Widmark Completes Casting; Mirisch Marks Anniversary
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 16 Aug 1960: 21.
^WIDMARK'S FIRM ADDS TO AGENDA: Heath Plans Films in Japan and in England After Star Makes 'Seven File' Here
By HOWARD THOMPSON. New York Times 4 Feb 1961: 14.
