Clinical and calculating top British agent Major John Tarrant (adroitly played with deceptive calmness by Michael Caine) goes after the ruthless gunrunners who have kidnapped his son. Moreover, Tarrant further suspects that one of his colleagues might be involved in said abduction.
Director Don Siegel keeps the involving story moving along at a steady pace, maintains a stark no-nonsense tone throughout, and stages a few exciting action scenes with trademark skill and precision. Moreover, while this film might be a bit lacking in tension, this is nonetheless more than compensated for by a wealth of tasty incidental details and a wickedly amusing sense of sharp self-mocking humor. The sound acting by the tip-top cast rates as another substantial plus: Donald Pleasence as quirky superior Cedric Harper, John Vernon as the coldblooded McKee, Delphine Seyrig as the saucy Ceil Burrows, Clive Revill as pesky copper Alf Chestermann, Joss Ackland as the shifty Chief Supt. Wray, Janet Suzman as Tarrant's fed-up wife Alex, Joseph O'Connor as the disillusioned Sir Edward, and Catherine Schell as the tart Lady Melissa Julyan. Leigh Vance's smart and intricate script shows with chilling lucidity the severe emotional price one must pay for being part of the pitiless spy business. Roy Budd's cool funky-jazzy score hits the right-on groovy spot. Ousama Rawi's crisp widescreen cinematography provides a pleasing picturesque look. Well worth a watch.
Director Don Siegel keeps the involving story moving along at a steady pace, maintains a stark no-nonsense tone throughout, and stages a few exciting action scenes with trademark skill and precision. Moreover, while this film might be a bit lacking in tension, this is nonetheless more than compensated for by a wealth of tasty incidental details and a wickedly amusing sense of sharp self-mocking humor. The sound acting by the tip-top cast rates as another substantial plus: Donald Pleasence as quirky superior Cedric Harper, John Vernon as the coldblooded McKee, Delphine Seyrig as the saucy Ceil Burrows, Clive Revill as pesky copper Alf Chestermann, Joss Ackland as the shifty Chief Supt. Wray, Janet Suzman as Tarrant's fed-up wife Alex, Joseph O'Connor as the disillusioned Sir Edward, and Catherine Schell as the tart Lady Melissa Julyan. Leigh Vance's smart and intricate script shows with chilling lucidity the severe emotional price one must pay for being part of the pitiless spy business. Roy Budd's cool funky-jazzy score hits the right-on groovy spot. Ousama Rawi's crisp widescreen cinematography provides a pleasing picturesque look. Well worth a watch.