The Ministry of Fear

PARAMOUNT PICTURES will make a movie of this thriller, and it will have superior dialogue. Unfortunately the first-rate writing—the capsule characterization, acute observation, and good description — will not appear in the movie. The residue consists of a church fete with sinister overtones, of a murderous séance, of omniscient enemies, of Dr. Forester’s rest home for mental cases, of spy-chasing through the London blitz, of love under difficulties. The story itself, though unbelievable, is good to the last letdown. Confirmed addicts will find this self-styled “entertainment ” well worth a few more gray hairs.