JohnHowardReid It's very difficult to make a movie that is both amusing and exciting, let alone one that spoofs its own pedigree. But thanks to Roy Baker's excellent direction and the efforts of a stellar cast, this effort succeeds admirably on all counts. True, it does take at least ten minutes to warm up, but we need that time to get used to Margaret Lockwood's new, shorter hair style. I actually prefer women with long hair. Short hair seems so boyish to me, but it is certainly appropriate in this instance. Anyway, Margaret Lockwood and Dane Clark easily walk away with the acting honors, if only for the fact that all the other roles are either small or very small. Marius Goring is obviously operating at a slow speed in order to stretch out his screen time – a ploy which is not successful because it helps us to lose interest in the character. He's there, mooning about and looking ominous, but so tongue-tied, he doesn't really seem to pose a threat to our heroine at all. True, he may be cunning, but on the other hand, he may be just a slow-witted dope. As I say, no threat to our heroine at all! Margaret is also supported by a whole mob of really vigorous farceurs (no doubts about them, they're obviously all on our side) led by Naunton Wayne and Marius Goring (of all people). It's also good to record that the music score is particularly adept. And last but not least, I'd agree with other reviewers that director Roy Ward Baker manages to give this comedy/thriller a bit of style – which must have been hard to do, given the way the script jumps around from comic capers to suspenseful episodes, especially those involving Margaret and Marius! I tend to feel that other reviewers missed the point or got lost, Admittedly, I watched the itv DVD twice!

blacknorth Highly Dangerous is a rare original screenplay by novelist Eric Ambler. It draws heavily on elements of his early pre-1939 thrillers, but reposts them behind the Iron Curtain. This film leans particularly on Ambler's first novel The Dark Frontier, most notably with the super-agent coda, which is very fashionable today.Ambler's problem with Highly Dangerous is that most of the plot devices he invented single-handedly in the 30's were used to the point of saturation by film-makers during the 40's. By the time he got around to an original screenplay it all seems very unoriginal. For that reason I like to think of this film as British cinema's homage to all Ambler's great work in the 30's. An adaptation of one of Ambler's post war novels, say, Judgement On Deltchev, would have been much more satisfactory at this point in his career - as it was, he had to wait ten years until Topkapi before the cinema recognised his post-war novels.Margaret Lockwood makes for a very beautiful and personable innocent, drawn into a cold-war plot about a form of biological warfare, not entirely a new thing, but a change from the nuclear threats of the time. Lockwood's career was on the decline, and this film can't have offered her very much compensation. Additionally, she is badly served by her make-up artist, her hair being mocked up to middle-age very badly.Don't treat this film as a serious attempt to translate Ambler's art to the screen - you can find that in just about any war-time thriller - from Journey Into Fear to The Mask of Dimitrios. Highly Dangerous is minor Ambler, and an opportunity for a fading Lockwood to make one more impression, and what an impression - innocent, scientist and secret agent.

colinhartwright Fairly daft but won't hurt you. Dane Clark is amiable, a more than competent actor and has an understated way that works with the rather poor chances of comedy he's handed. Margaret Lockwood looks good and don't knock her as an actress either, this isn't Macbeth. And remember this was 1950, don't compare it with present day overblown and infinitely less believable efforts. As another reviewer said "See it once.", I've seen it twice - and lived. I notice a minimum of 10 lines is required There isn't much more to say coupled with other reviewers opinions. I wouldn't make a special effort to see this film but there have been a lot worse. Ten lines? Good. Goodbye.

liz-barr Although I agree with most of the criticisms in the negative review already posted - I have just watched this movie on TV over lunch and really quite enjoyed it, which is why I came to this site to be reminded of the cast. I was surprised to see Anthony Newly's name - didn't recognise him. Margaret Lockwood looks much prettier than in many of her other films - her mouth is less prominent and her hair better groomed. Although I don't think it is worth seeing more than once - I do think it is pleasurable enough to watch once. Plenty of films are made of which that is not so. So if you haven't seen it - you won't hate it. It's just not absolutely terrific.