The Key ** (1958, William Holden, Sophia Loren, Trevor Howard, Oskar Homolka) – Classic Movie Review 8409

Director Carol Reed’s 1958 British black and white World War Two adventure plus romantic triangle drama The Key stars Sophia Loren as lonely young Swiss-Italian war widow Stella, who finds herself in between tugboat Captain David Ross (William Holden) and Captain Chris Ford (Trevor Howard).

Based on Jan de Hartog’s novel Stella, The Key is an odd, metaphorical tale and statement on war, professionally done and well acted especially by Howard and Oskar Homolka as Captain Van Dam. But The Key is a long haul at 134 minutes and director Reed’s heart doesn’t seem to have been in it.

Howard won a BAFTA Film Award as Best British Actor.

Also in the cast are Kieron Moore, Bernard Lee, Beatrix Lehmann, Noel Purcell, Bryan Forbes, Russell Waters, James Hayter, Irene Handl, John Crawford, Jameson Clark, Rupert Davies, Sidney Vivian, Renee Houston, Belita, and Pauline Chamberlain.

Michael Caine’s one scene as a Seaman was cut from the released print, and James Hayter was also deleted.

The Key is directed by Carol Reed, runs 134 minutes, is made by Highroad and Open Road Films, is released by Columbia, is written by Carl Foreman, based on Jan de Hartog’s novel Stella, is shot in black and white by Oswald Morris, is produced by Carl Foreman and Aubrey Baring, is scored by Malcolm Arnold and is designed by Wilfred Shingleton.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8409

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