dongwangfu

These are radio dramas barely changed for the screen. Although each episode is set in a different locale, they are all filmed, it seems, on LA area back lots. Quite a difference from "I Spy," say, which is uses a very similar conceit but makes the most of the scenery. Also, I wonder if the "commissioner" got sick during the filming, because his character disappears a few episodes in.

The cold war ethos is such that Donlevy's character is sympathetic to Eastern Europeans seeking to escape the Eastern bloc, but if there is a rebellious movement in Africa he is sent to quash it. He's such a "lovable dope" that all he does is follow orders -- no Patrick McGoohan style angst here.

While fairly cookie-cutter, the first is a pretty good episode relative to some of the later ones. Also, all the characters appear to be speaking Spanish, even though the episode was set in Portugal. Last I checked Spain and Portugal were different countries, but, then again, this was the era of the "Ugly American."

I have not seen this episode but would be very interested, given the subject matter, and Martin Berkeley's role in cooperating with HUAC in the 1950's.

While we were distracted keeping track of errors of continuity and plot inconsistencies during the first few episodes, the story really picked up and we eventually started to let them slide (even though what different characters know at different times sometimes did not jibe with their actions).

But what is really notable about "The Widow" are several bravura choices by the director, including revisiting scenes from different characters' perspectives, and some excellent stylish montages from following a bobblehead in front of back window of a car through a drive through Kinshasa, to a montage following the production and processing of Coltan through all of its stages. In the end, this was an above-average thriller with good performances.