McGuffin Files - The Search (1948)

Fred Zinnemann's "The Search" is the poignant and heartwarming story of a young boy lost in post World War II Germany. Young Karel Malik (Ivan Jandl), separated from his Czech family, forgets his identity and much of his humanity after experiencing the atrocities of war and somehow surviving Aushwitz. Offered help by th Allies, Karel and some of the other children are frightened by the soldiers and flee. At the same time we learn that Karel's mother (Jarmila Novotna) is alive and searching for him. Later, a hungry Karel stumbles upon Ralph "Steve" Stevenson (Montgomery Clift's film debut) eating a sandwich. After a great struggle to build trust, Steve takes Karel under his wing and with no knowledge of who the boy is, begins to make plans to take him with him when he returns to America. 

Also starring Wendell Corey and Alene McMahon, "The Search" was nominated for five Academy Awards and win two: Best Screenplay and Best Juvenile Performance for Ivan Jandl. 

There is a brief shot of the Charles Bridge in Prague while a traditional Czech folk song is played. This took my breath away as I know I've heard that song played on the streets of Prague by contemporary street musicians. 

Rumor has it there are colorized versions floating around out there. Don't be a victim of the colorization fad, this is a beauty shot in glorious black and white!

3 Days Of The Condor (1975)

Sydney Pollack's "3 Days Of The Condor" is a great suspense film from 1975. Here Robert Redford is at his best, starring as a CIA researcher, Joe Turner - code name "Condor".  Turner's department reads and analyzes everything published looking for implanted messages. They work in a nondescript but secure building in NewYork  City. One day Turner leaves through an unsecure exit to pick up lunch for the office. When he returns, he finds his co-workers have been executed. 

Turner phones in to the CIA for a secure pick up ("I'm not a field agent, I just read books!"), but after a botched rescue he feels he can't trust anyone. Does the researcher have what it takes to to figure out who took out his section and why before they catch up to him?