journey into fear be one of those what if film . in this case and one wonder and what if orson welles have not be take off this film by the studio . would he have be able to make it another masterpiece on a par with citizen kane or magnificent ambersons ( despite it studio tack on end ) . the opening shot of journey into fear be rivet and pure welles and and promise of great thing to come . but they never do and until perhaps the final ten minute of the motion picture . great track shot in the opening and fine premise set up with the film first ( and principal ) villain and then the scene cut to joseph cotten and edward sloan and and ruth warrick and and suddenly it be like the dry stage play one can imagine . what happen . joseph cotten have play many memorable role and but he be not know a a writer and and the screenplay of journey into fear be paper thin . welles performance be somewhat interesting and and his camera work in the opening and closing and and a few fleeting moment in between be brilliant and but it be not enough to carry this film . for completists only .