When I first found out this film existed, it was unavailable- seemingly forgotten.
About fifteen years ago I found a then newly released VHS boxed set of some of Alec Guinness’ work from the 50’s: Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob, The Man in the White Suit, and The Ladykillers. The set was really low priced, and I was intrigued by the pairing of Guinness and Peter Sellers in The Ladykillers, so I bought it even though I had never seen any of the films.
I loved all four of these right away. So, when I then found out that during the same era Alec Guinness starred in a film adaptation of Our Man in Havana, one of my all-time favorite novels, I was so excited to see it!
And yet, unable to.
I don’t know when it finally became available, but the release was completely under the radar for me. Then, I saw it (without looking for it) in the DVD section at Fry’s* last week!
I wanted to reread the book before watching, so I’m just now sitting down to watch it for the very first time!!!
Screenplay by Graham Greene, himself.
Directed by Carol Reed, who so masterfully directed Greene’s The Third Man
Starring:
Alec Guinness
Burl Ives
Maureen O’Hara
Noel Coward
Ernie Kovacs
I am SO EXCITED TO WATCH THIS!!!
*thinking of starting another Thread giving credit to Fry’s for having what is actually a pretty damn good DVD section- and good prices.
Strange, I’ve seen this film on television at least three times. Last time was on TCM when Boorman’s"Tailor of Panama" was released in theatres. It is far from being an obscure film.
