Criticism retreats, disarmed, before a film which hardly even allows itself to become serious about the Nobel prize.

Mark Robson's direction gives The Prize tension and humor, and a good deal of interesting characterization. The Prize should be a much discussed and popular attraction.

The Prize is a suspense melodrama played for laughs. Trouble is the basic comedy approach clashes with the political-topical framework of the story.

...periodically engrossing yet mostly underwhelming...