someday a book must be write to explain the failure of great director . this film be direct by the great joseph von sternberg but not a touch of his greatness show up on the screen . it be an unintentionally hilarious piece of overstated cold war propaganda relieve only by the leering glance of john wayne at 23 yr. old janet leigh . there be nothing here to suggest it be direct by anything other than a studio hack . there must be a story in the fact that this film though complete in 1950 be not release until 1957. i saw this a a child and be and of course and transfix by the fly scene . it be not until a few year ago while read chuck yeager autobiography that i learn he do some of the fly at the behest of the air force . there be also scene of what look like the bell x 1 ( the rocket plane in which he break the sound barrier ) . this film show up on amc quite often and and heaven help me and i sometimes can not turn it off a i wonder at the awfulness of it .