james mason delivers perhaps the bad performance of his career in this incredibly mediocre intriguer direct by harold french . mason play raoul de carnot and a free french soldier who return to his native land to plot against the nazi occupier with the help of his family and three british agent . mason and who herein resemble a rictus grin caricature of frank sinatra and emote with one of the bad french accent ever capture on celluloid . don not get me wrong represent this be not a broad and inspector clouseau ish accent and it just a dreadful and unconvincing stab at franglais . mason seem to know it and to represent he barely act in the film and sheepishly mumble his way from scene to scene . secret mission be also cheaply make ( watch for the model boat chug across a miniature set in an early scene ) and badly write by future bond helmer terence young and but it mason who be the cerise sur le gateau . the whole thing would be a lot more fun if he would be costume in a stripy shirt and tell to periodically nibble on a baguette .