First you wonder how could a couple as attractive as Newman and Andrews consider betraying the West? Not to worry, we find out they are as red-blooded-patriotic as they look like they should by all rights be, and then the silliness accelerates. But wait, anyone in their right mind would have discerned from the beginning this was a setup, so the second thing you wonder is how East German authorities could be such dopes when this guy is giving signals all the way he is not sincere. No adequate explanation.
Later you get to wonder how a state with as many secret police as East Germany could miss the fact that the good scientist who has just defected finds his way to a farm in the middle of the country, or that there are bus loads of disaffected citizens riding around between Leipzig and Berlin in fake buses. Finally, how could a director as talented as Hitchcock and actors as good as Newman and Andrews end up carryout out such a travesty of cold-war thrillers?
It appears Hitchcock assumed the passion of anti-communist sentiment would overcome dramatic and logical inconsistencies. Wrong. You have to conclude it was just not his métier and they were seduced by the chance to work with an otherwise brilliant director. In short, could have been so much better with a better story, better script ... and better score.
Later you get to wonder how a state with as many secret police as East Germany could miss the fact that the good scientist who has just defected finds his way to a farm in the middle of the country, or that there are bus loads of disaffected citizens riding around between Leipzig and Berlin in fake buses. Finally, how could a director as talented as Hitchcock and actors as good as Newman and Andrews end up carryout out such a travesty of cold-war thrillers?
It appears Hitchcock assumed the passion of anti-communist sentiment would overcome dramatic and logical inconsistencies. Wrong. You have to conclude it was just not his métier and they were seduced by the chance to work with an otherwise brilliant director. In short, could have been so much better with a better story, better script ... and better score.