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Underrated Hitchcock spy flick
Date of Review: Jul 6, 2003
The Bottom Line: Far better Hitchcock offering than most of his other later works, including Torn Curtain and the uneven Family Plot.
Frederick Stafford (who?) plays a French Intelligence Agent working for American official John Forsythe, and spying on the Russians and their apparently dubious activities in Cuba. Canadian character actor John Vernon is highly underrated as a Fidel Castro-type (he has wonderfully cold-looking eyes), while Karin Dor (the only weak link in the terrific Bond flick "You Only Live Twice") plays his mistress, married to the insanely jealous Dany Robin. But the girl seems to really get around, because Stafford is able to use a past connection with her to assist him in his mission.
This underrated Hitchcock film might turn some people off with its decidedly non-campy, 'un-Bondian' manner, but there's quite a bit to like here, even if it is not among my top three Hitchcock films (Strangers on a Train, Vertigo, and The 39 Steps). The film may not have the greatest leading man, but the supporting cast is full of interesting faces and scene-stealing performers. As stressed above, Vernon tends to get a bad rap, but I quite liked him, and was especially impressed with the interesting ways that Hitchcock and the cinematographer have photographed the Vernon character. It actually reminds me of the way he shot Robert Walker to make him even more sinister in "Strangers on a Train". There's a particularly effective murder scene involving striking close-ups of Vernon's face and a beautiful purple dress that is among the best scenes that Hitchcock ever created, even if the film itself is OK at best. Also in the cast are dependable European character actor Michel Piccoli and American character player John 'Charlie' Forsythe (The Trouble With Harry), lending credibility and a small but scene-stealing turn by dignified American actor Roscoe Lee Browne (he has one great scene posing as a journalist).
Also, the film has a special place in my heart for featuring Hitchcock's funniest cameo ever, one which I daren't divulge here.
Give this one a look, the years have been kind to it, making it one of the standouts among the many (mostly bland) Non-Bond spy films of the 60s.
