Unappreciated in its day, this delightful, elaborately mounted spoof of counter-espionage movies is my favorite W.S. Van Dyke film. The screenplay bubbles with wit and humor. The direction is deft, the photography superb. An outstanding support cast make the most of their opportunities. The movie is also a must-see – or rather a must-hear – for its songs, the best of which is the fast-paced medley with the King's Men and the final spectacular "Cairo". This is the only place you'll hear it! It was never recorded. In fact, the songs are by far, the movie's chief attraction. At this point, I disagree with good old George Addison. He feels that what he describes as "a silly, lame story" is allowed to run too long, and that Miss MacDonald's acting in the comedy stretches is both arch and reach-me-down. "Furthermore, it will not please her fans who are used to a much more serious MacDonald. Not that I personally object to a tongue-in-cheek approach. It's just that her timing is all wrong. Weak in-jokes do not help. Admittedly, Ethel Waters is even worse and her tray-carrying shuffle and MacDonald's response are in remarkably poor taste, to say the least. Another embarrassing incident involves Robert Young in a tedious 'dark house' in which Young ends up, dripping wet, under the piano. Van Dyke's direction seems as tired and listless as the dated, overlong (at 101 minutes) plot."
Review of Cairo
