The defence The Big-Idea Head
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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The List of Adrian Messenger
Mystery · Thriller · 1963
Adrian Messenger, a famous writer, asks his friend Anthony Gethryn, a former British agent, to help him investigate the whereabouts of the people who appear on a list, without asking him the reason why he should do so.
Movie details
The List of Adrian Messenger
“The most bizarre murder mystery ever conceived!”
1963 Mystery · Thriller 1h 39m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.7 / 10
Community rating
Adrian Messenger, a famous writer, asks his friend Anthony Gethryn, a former British agent, to help him investigate the whereabouts of the people who appear on a list, without asking him the reason why he should do so.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The List of Adrian Messenger?
For the defence
The Big-Idea Head
“You watch with your brain, not your gut.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
John Huston
Written by
Anthony Veiller · Philip MacDonald
George C. Scott
Anthony Gethryn
Kirk Douglas
George Brougham / Vicar Atlee / Mr. Pythian / Arthur Henderson
Dana Wynter
Lady Jocelyn Bruttenholm
Clive Brook
Marquis of Gleneyre
Gladys Cooper
Mrs. Karoudjian
Herbert Marshall
Sir Wilfrid Lucas
Jacques Roux
Raoul Le Borg
Court is in session
Put The List of Adrian Messenger on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.