Perhaps Top Secret Affair would have been a better film if the writers hadn't totally thrown out the original source material (a book by John Marquand); it certainly would have been better had the stars for whom the material was originally tailored (Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall) been able to do it. Unfortunately, their replacements -- the undeniably talented Kirk Douglas and Susan Hayward -- are simply not an ideal cast, and director H.C. Potter doesn't seem to know how to mold their performances to make up for this. Thus, Hayward's performance too often crosses the border into shrillness and shrewishness rather than staying simply determined and competitive, and Douglas simply doesn't know how to wrap his tongue around phrases that require Bogart's delivery. The problems don't become apparent right away, so the film starts off well, but by midpoint, it's begun drooping. Still, the basic premise of the film has some entertainment value, and the stars do have moments -- individually and together -- that give them the chance to demonstrate their considerable abilities. There's also solid support from the amusing Jim Backus and an impressive turn from Paul Stewart, who clearly understands how to play this kind of material. Top Secret Affair is far from top-drawer, but devoted fans of the stars may want to catch it to see them in a change-of-pace environment.