A fascinating film about blacklisting in the entertainment industry, the material does feel rather dry but the ideas are good and the quality of the acting pushes it through when nothing else does. Michael Murphy plays his character in a very human and realistic manner, and the performers are all round well suited, although Allen goes for comedy whereas everything else is in dramatic mode. The film is weighed down in fact by unevenness between comedy and drama throughout, however it is not entirely Allen's fault. Ritt's direction seems somewhat patchy with varying tones throughout. I definitely wouldn't call this a great film - or at least I can't say that I liked it a lot - but it still did have enough in it to keep me interested until the end.
