This week’s mystery movie was the 1952 Twentieth Century-Fox picture “5 Fingers” (often rendered “Five Fingers”) with James Mason, Danielle Darrieux, Michael Rennie, Walter Hampden, Oscar Karlweis, Herbert Berghof, John Wengraf, A. Ben Astar and Roger Plowden. Screenplay by Michael Wilson, from the book by L.C. Moyzisch, music by Bernard Herrmann, photography by Norbert Brodine, art direction by Lyle Wheeler and George W. Davis, set decoration by Thomas Little and Walter M. Scott, editing by James B. Clark, wardrobe by Charles Le Maire, makeup by Ben Nye, photographic effects by Ray Kellogg, sound by W.D. Flick and Roger Heman. Produced by Otto Lang. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
“5 Fingers” is available on DVD from TCM.
Writing in the New York Times (Feb. 23, 1952) Bosley Crowther said:
Those who may fear that the old days of silken spy films are as dead as the gone days of diamond tiaras and princely diplomacy can now settle back in the comfort and the tingling satisfaction to be had from Twentieth Century-Fox’s “Five Fingers,” which arrived at the Roxy yesterday. For here, in this literate entertainment Joseph L. Mankiewicz has made with a cast that might well have been recruited at an embassy function in pre-war Berlin, is as dandy an espionage thriller as ever went through the polished hands of a Grahame Greene or an Alfred Hitchcock — or for that matter, an E.P. Oppenheim.
And what’s more, added to the relish of this spicy adventure that is played in a particularly suave and crafty manner by James Mason in the central spy role is the fact that the story of it is almost a literal account of a fantastic piece of spy work that was accomplished in Ankara, Turkey, in 1944. The story has since been recounted by a former attache of the German Embassy there in a book called “Operation Cicero.” It is this book by L.C. Moyzisch upon which the film is based.
…. Mr. Mason and Miss Darrieux are magnificently poised and efficient. He embraces entirely the manners and air of a devilishly clever European who is an unmitigated rascal at heart, and she is as stirring but elusive as an indescribably elegant perfume.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Jeroma Moshan.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent. He is skeptical about such goings-on.
Update: This is Oskar Karlweis.
For Wednesday, Tuesday’s mystery gent has a mystery companion – who does NOT approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Oskar Karlweis and Herbert Berghof. (And a better picture of Berghof).
And also this polished mystery gent.
Update: This is Walter Hampden.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests).
For Thursday, we have a not terribly mysterious gent. The leading man has been cropped out due to his insufficient mysteriousness. He will appear Friday, as will our leading lady.
Update: This is Michael Rennie. Here’s a better picture him, after “Day the Earth Stood Still.”
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 3) and Jenny M. (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery gent and Wednesday’s mystery gent No. 3).
For Friday, we have our non-mysterious leading lady….
Update: This is Danielle Darrieux.
… and our even less mysterious leading man.
Update: This is James Mason.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery gent), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and all mystery guests), David Inman (Thursday’s mystery guest), Gary (Thursday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery gent), Don Danard (Thursday’s mystery space visitor), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery gent), Charles Kjelland (Thursday’s mystery gent) and L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast).
ladailymirror.com 
Ina Balin
LikeLike
A good guess. But alas….
LikeLike
Kazan’s “America America”?
LikeLike
Oh an interesting guess! But, alas…
LikeLike
FIVE FINGERS (1952)
Monday: Jeroma Moshan
Tuesday: Oskar Karlweis
LikeLike
5 FINGERS. Jeroma Moshan Monday, Oskar Karlweis Tuesday, Roger Plowden, Herbert Berghof, and Walter Hampden today.
LikeLike
Clarence Kolb.
LikeLike
A splendid guess. Really splendid. But, alas….
LikeLike
Oskar Karlweis, Herbert Berghof; Walter Hampden.
I see the Fox TV series spells out the number. The movie title is 5 Fingers.
LikeLike
Walter Hampden for Wednesday?
LikeLike
Tuesday – Oskar Karlweis
Wednesday – Walter Hampden
Movie – 5 Fingers
LikeLike
An unusually well behaved Reggie Nalder today
LikeLike
An interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Michael Rennie today.
LikeLike
“5 Fingers”
Jeroma Moshan, Oskar Karlweis, Herbert Berghof, Walter Hampden, Michael Rennie
LikeLike
Michael Rennie today. And is that Frank De Vol on Tuesday?
LikeLike
Michael Rennie prior to Hollywood. And i wonder if Tuesday’s guest might be Michael Hordern who I did not know was ever so young.
LikeLike
James Mason & Michael Rennie.
LikeLike
Thursdays Mystery Man is waiting for the Earth to Stand Still.
LikeLike
Thursday’s guest is Michael Rennie. Happy 4th of July!!
LikeLike
Michael Rennie today, have no idea of the movie!
LikeLike
5 Fingers (1952)w/James Mason, Danielle Darrieux, Michael Rennie, Oskar Karlweis, Jeroma Moshan, Walter Hampden, …
LikeLike
Danielle Darrieux, James Mason
LikeLike
Dannielle Darrieux and a one eyebrowed James Mason. It looks like the Queen Mother is our space visitor from yesterday.
LikeLike
James Mason and Danielle Darrieux in Five Fingers. I remember seeing this as a kid,( why I went I do not know), and I did not understand a thing about it. I might have remembered having seen the lady in an MGM musical and hoped for more of the same.Je aime Danielle Darrieux.
LikeLike
The movie is 5 Fingers. Jeroma Moshan on Monday? Tuesday: Oscar Karlweis, Wed: Herbert Berghof and Walter Hampden, Thurs: Michael Rennie, and Friday Danielle Darrieux and James Mason.
LikeLike
Michael Rennie was ill the day the earth stood still.
LikeLike
Danielle Darrieux; James Mason.
LikeLike