NINETY DEGREES IN THE SHADE is obscure for a reason: it's an entirely dull, lifeless, shot-in-black-and-white romantic drama made in the Czech Republic without much in the way of directorial flair or interest. The aim seems to be to make a film in the style of THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD but the resultant drama is instead full of uninteresting characters who do very little.

About the only thing this has going for it is the interesting cast, featuring various imported actors to give it a bit of life. Donald Wolfit plays against type and is fun, for instance; it's difficult to criticise Anne Heywood's lead performance, and both James Booth and Ann Todd are reliable. A shame that the film itself is no fun at all.

A curious and likeable film that is an effective blend of Czech and British filmmaking of the early to mid sixties. Script is by David Mercer but from a Czech story and whilst much of the film has a European look there are interior scenes much more akin to British dramas of the time and then there are all these English faces amongst the Czechoslovak. Ann Todd and the lovely Anne Heywood are most effective as is a seemingly out of place Donald Wolfit and less so the overrated James Booth, who at least manages not to disgrace himself here. It is a rather downbeat tale set mostly in and around a grocery store but there is substantial local colour with marvellous Prague street scenes in the city and beside the river and the dialogue convincing enough to draw the viewer in. The main characters are surprisingly well drawn considering the modest running time and although the downward spiral seems inevitable from the start it is never quite clear what might happen as we witness the developing and changing situation. Well worth a look and as the film was apparently cut differently for British and Czech release will merit second viewing of the Czech language version.

One assumes that this was made in Czechoslovakia during the brief thaw in the communist regime under Dubcek.One further supposes that one of the main reasons for its production in Prague was economy.Obviously a wise move given the tone of the film.It has to be said that everything about this film reeks of its commercially.The atmosphere in the film is one of dread.The economy of production is self evident,and the title is truly dreadful.It would appear from this site that this film was not distributed in cinemas in the UK,and thus sat on the shelf for over 40 years till it's DVD release.This is not very surprising.The film is of interest in that it features Donald Wolcott and Ann Todd in character roles near to the end of their respective careers.Not to be watched if you are in a melancholic state of mind.