Most spy films become parodies or satires. This film is a deliberate goof on the genre by two of the UK's greatest comedians. They never became known in the States unlike Benny Hill and that was a sad thing for America. The film is loaded with sexy beauties like Gloria Paul who was a contender for a role in Thunderball (she should have been a Bond Girl). The music goes for a jazzy spy feel and the film has good cinematography.
20 Reviews
Obvious Spy Spoof rescued by M & W
BJJManchester21 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The first of Morecambe and Wise's three films made in the mid-1960's,THE INTELLIGENCE MEN is a somewhat feeble parody of James Bond-type spy thrillers (which were basically parodies themselves) unworthy of the celebrated British comedy double act.Although the script was co-written by the writers of their TV series at the time (Dick Hills and Sid Green,who also briefly appear in cameo roles),the plotting and scripting are slapdash and witless,allied with uninspiring direction by journeyman Robert Asher,who occasionally falls into the irritating trap of under-cranking the camera(which,along with Philip Green's musical score, is overtly facetious),and a supporting cast of familiar British character actors like William Franklyn,Terence Alexander,Francis Matthews and Warren Mitchell who often look embarrassed by the material presented to them.
The film would've been almost totally unwatchable had Eric and Ernie not been involved.They are given very few opportunities to shine here,but despite the vagaries described above,they still manage to raise some decent laughs on occasions with for example Eric demonstrating a self-defence routine (which looks as though it was mostly improvised) and hi-jinks at a theatre surrounding a performance of Swan Lake.My dear Grandmother once described this scene with considerable fondness (mistakenly thinking it was a scene involving Laurel and Hardy),saying it reduced her to tears of laughter. With Eric and Ernie dressed in pharaoh-type costumes,it certainly has some very funny moments,but the film as a whole is a disappointment,as indeed were Morecambe and Wise's two other vehicles that followed,THAT RIVIERA TOUCH and THE MAGNIFICENT TWO.These also had their fair share of amusing scenes (particularly THAT RIVIERA TOUCH),but there was always the undeniable feeling that Eric and Ernie's proper niche was as TV comedians,in a sketch and crosstalk format,rather than the more disciplined medium of the cinema,which required more control in the plotting and writing to properly sustain narrative.Had they had been given the chance to work with the right sort of material for the big screen,there would have been every possibility that they could have made it a success here;as it was,they stuck with TV and became a national institution in Britain,and despite being no longer with us are remembered with deep love and affection for their brilliant BBC TV shows made between 1968 and 1978;it's a shame (and indeed,a source of regret for Eric and Ernie themselves) that their brief sojourn in the cinema never came close to reaching the heights of their TV shows,but THE INTELLIGENCE MEN,like the others,still has some funny moments thanks to their great comic talents.
RATING:5 out of 10.
The film would've been almost totally unwatchable had Eric and Ernie not been involved.They are given very few opportunities to shine here,but despite the vagaries described above,they still manage to raise some decent laughs on occasions with for example Eric demonstrating a self-defence routine (which looks as though it was mostly improvised) and hi-jinks at a theatre surrounding a performance of Swan Lake.My dear Grandmother once described this scene with considerable fondness (mistakenly thinking it was a scene involving Laurel and Hardy),saying it reduced her to tears of laughter. With Eric and Ernie dressed in pharaoh-type costumes,it certainly has some very funny moments,but the film as a whole is a disappointment,as indeed were Morecambe and Wise's two other vehicles that followed,THAT RIVIERA TOUCH and THE MAGNIFICENT TWO.These also had their fair share of amusing scenes (particularly THAT RIVIERA TOUCH),but there was always the undeniable feeling that Eric and Ernie's proper niche was as TV comedians,in a sketch and crosstalk format,rather than the more disciplined medium of the cinema,which required more control in the plotting and writing to properly sustain narrative.Had they had been given the chance to work with the right sort of material for the big screen,there would have been every possibility that they could have made it a success here;as it was,they stuck with TV and became a national institution in Britain,and despite being no longer with us are remembered with deep love and affection for their brilliant BBC TV shows made between 1968 and 1978;it's a shame (and indeed,a source of regret for Eric and Ernie themselves) that their brief sojourn in the cinema never came close to reaching the heights of their TV shows,but THE INTELLIGENCE MEN,like the others,still has some funny moments thanks to their great comic talents.
RATING:5 out of 10.
One classic moment
neil-47629 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This first big screen outing for UK TV comedians Morecambe and Wise is a sub-James Bond spoof featuring assorted shenanigans taking place courtesy of a visiting Russian ballet company. But let's face it, the plot doesn't matter very much, which is just as well, because it isn't very good.
TV was Eric and Ernie's medium, not cinema.
But, for all that, this film contains a priceless sequence when the two boys, in Egyptian garb, find themselves taking part on the cygnet dance towards the end of Swan Lake - this has to be one of the best sight gag sequences ever committed to celluloid.
TV was Eric and Ernie's medium, not cinema.
But, for all that, this film contains a priceless sequence when the two boys, in Egyptian garb, find themselves taking part on the cygnet dance towards the end of Swan Lake - this has to be one of the best sight gag sequences ever committed to celluloid.
Great comedy writing and performance
mspeddings25 July 2011
I could never understand the slating that this film has always received. Admittedly it's not The Pink Panther but it was never meant to be. It's very clear to see that it was made on buttons but the writing and performances are terrific.
There are quite a few comedy moments in The Intelligence Men that even by today's standards are stunningly funny and yet at the same time are just so wonderfully innocent in their delivery. The 'where did that music come from then' moment is streets ahead of it's time as is the hilarious resolution to the sinister man who follows them around throughout the film, it's worth watching for that bit alone.
There are quite a few comedy moments in The Intelligence Men that even by today's standards are stunningly funny and yet at the same time are just so wonderfully innocent in their delivery. The 'where did that music come from then' moment is streets ahead of it's time as is the hilarious resolution to the sinister man who follows them around throughout the film, it's worth watching for that bit alone.
Sometimes funny, sometimes strained spy spoof
gridoon202422 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I was not familiar with the (apparently very popular in the UK) comic duo of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise before watching this film; I bought it mainly to expand my 1960's "spy & related stuff" collection. Of the two leads, I'd say I preferred Wise; he has a more understated comedic approach, whereas Morecambe sometimes pushes a little too hard for laughs (an example would be his scenes at the Spanish-themed café). Of course he does get some of those laughs ("He's dead and he was one of your best men. What's gonna happen to me, I'm one of your worst men!?"). Other funny moments include Morecambe and Wise's impromptu dancing number, the knife-throwing / letter-opening gag, and the entire sequence at the movie theater. Some episodes (like the climax at the Covent Garden) go on too long - as does the entire film (105 minutes). But the photography & music are colorful, and a parade of 1960s beauties (used mostly decoratively, it must be said) provide an added attraction. **1/2 out of 4.
Eric and Ern hit the big screen
studioAT12 November 2015
Morecambe and Wise made their feature film debuts with this film and openly admitted in later years that it wasn't much good.
The problem is even back then the spy spoof had been done to death and there was very little that could be added to it. As others have mentioned as well the film doesn't really feel like a film at all, it's more like a collection of sketches all around the same theme.
Eric Morecambe is reliably funny as he always was, but it can't be ignored that the film is too convoluted in terms of plot and there are too many slow moments. The directors habit of under cranking the action also tends to make the supposedly funny bits unfunny.
I prefer 'That Rivera Touch' to this film, which although is funny, doesn't do a lot for me.
The problem is even back then the spy spoof had been done to death and there was very little that could be added to it. As others have mentioned as well the film doesn't really feel like a film at all, it's more like a collection of sketches all around the same theme.
Eric Morecambe is reliably funny as he always was, but it can't be ignored that the film is too convoluted in terms of plot and there are too many slow moments. The directors habit of under cranking the action also tends to make the supposedly funny bits unfunny.
I prefer 'That Rivera Touch' to this film, which although is funny, doesn't do a lot for me.
a spoof of spy movies
myriamlenys3 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The movie features a great cast, which includes the remarkable "Morecambe and Wise" duo. Sadly it doesn't do justice to all that combined talent. It's a fairly tepid and unengaging parody of the spy movie genre : the production values may be high and the costumes may be beautiful, but the jokes are few and far between.
Still, the movie is not without its moments. For instance, you get a feisty owner of a coffee bar who walks around in Latin-American (or pseudo-Latin-American) garb, in order to underline the exotic rarety of his beverages. Compare and contrast to our modern world, where you can't just ask for "A coffee with milk, please" : no, you need to pick and choose between twenty Italian names, because, you know, ITALY.
One of the main problems is, that "The intelligence men" suffers from over-predictability. At one point a famous prima ballerina appears and people begin to talk about ballet ; immediately, the viewer suspects that he's going to get one of the great classics of comedy and farce, to wit a royally messed-up ballet performance. And indeed, some time later "Swan Lake" is about to receive a pie in the face.
People who like comedies might want to organize a pop quiz around this theme : "Name three movies in which a ballet performance is disturbed by interlopers". Within the Anglo-Saxon world I can immediately think of three ("The intelligence men" / "Make mine a million" / "Hellzapoppin") but the list must be far, far longer, with roots that reach back far in time. I would not be surprised to learn that, in Rome, Julius Caesar laughed while watching a contemporary equivalent...
Still, the movie is not without its moments. For instance, you get a feisty owner of a coffee bar who walks around in Latin-American (or pseudo-Latin-American) garb, in order to underline the exotic rarety of his beverages. Compare and contrast to our modern world, where you can't just ask for "A coffee with milk, please" : no, you need to pick and choose between twenty Italian names, because, you know, ITALY.
One of the main problems is, that "The intelligence men" suffers from over-predictability. At one point a famous prima ballerina appears and people begin to talk about ballet ; immediately, the viewer suspects that he's going to get one of the great classics of comedy and farce, to wit a royally messed-up ballet performance. And indeed, some time later "Swan Lake" is about to receive a pie in the face.
People who like comedies might want to organize a pop quiz around this theme : "Name three movies in which a ballet performance is disturbed by interlopers". Within the Anglo-Saxon world I can immediately think of three ("The intelligence men" / "Make mine a million" / "Hellzapoppin") but the list must be far, far longer, with roots that reach back far in time. I would not be surprised to learn that, in Rome, Julius Caesar laughed while watching a contemporary equivalent...
Big screen outing
Leofwine_draca19 January 2022
A big screen outing for the beloved TV duo of Morecambe and Wise. This one's a scattershot Bond spoof, as were so many in the 1960s, with our unlikely heroes joining forces to take down a spy ring. Some colour in the sultry actresses picked for the spy roles and fun to see William Franklyn, Terence Alexander and Francis Matthews playing the most frightfully British of intelligence trios, but sadly this just isn't particularly funny. It all rests on Morecambe's shoulders and he tries so hard, but can only do so much with a script which is average at best.
Stupid dopey and dumb, and I LOVED every minute of it.
bucksix30 June 2004
I first saw this on the late show quite a a few years ago. I laughed so hard and loud that I woke up my wife and kids. I devoured TV Guide for the next six months until I found it on again and let the tape roll. This was long before the vhs vcrs we now have. Over the years, the tape got lost and I was heartsick. Not long ago, I found a dvd of it on Amazon.UK. It was of course PAL, Region 2. Then I found a region free, PAL and NTSC dvd player. Now several hundred dollars later, I can watch Spy Larks (British title The Intelligence Men)whenever I please, and I please often.
I see Eric was voted the funniest performer in the UK for the 20th century. Well deserved. That he is now dead is our great loss, but I have learned that he died of a heart attack while performing on stage. If God was not a comedy fan before, He is now.
I see Eric was voted the funniest performer in the UK for the 20th century. Well deserved. That he is now dead is our great loss, but I have learned that he died of a heart attack while performing on stage. If God was not a comedy fan before, He is now.
Don't belive the hype.
leelisaw1 July 2002
Often lampooned as a poor relation to the famous duo's T.V series, this and the two other films they made(That Riviera Touch/The Magnificent Two)are great showcases for these two comic legends. DO NOT be put of by comments that often follow the films around that often accuse the two of selling out to Hollywood. This is as good a performance that you will ever see from Britain's favourite comedy duo.
An enjoyable spy spoof from the great comic duo
Elgroovio20 November 2004
I love Morecambe and Wise so I enjoyed this film. They are on top form as bumbling British agents who are trying to stop the bad guys who are "on their side" from doing their bad deeds. There are some really funny scenes and some great lines ("waiter there's a dead man in this soup") and a reasonable cast. Yet though this film is very much enjoyable, it is not as good as their next film "That Riviera Touch", because it begins to get a bit unfunny at times. Nevertheless it's worth watching just for the fantastic opera scene at the end of the film which recalls Danny Kaye's equally hilarious opera performance at the end of his film "Wonder Man". It is also interesting to see how young Morecambe and Wise were when they made the film. Enjoy! 8/10
The BEST of Eric and Ernie
morpheusatloppers16 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Morecombe and Wise only ever made three films. In the Eighties, they switched TV companies in order to make more - but sadly, Eric died before that could happen. Which leaves us with the three they made in the Sixties.
In reverse order, they are "The Magnificent Two" - a similar film to the contemporaneous Woody Allen piece, "Bananas." However, despite a good effort by the boys, it was a bomb.
Before that, they had had their greatest success with "That Riviera Touch", which many consider to be the best of the three. It had an original plot and Ernie got to sing.
But their first outing combined a feeble Bond-spoof plot with many of the boys' TV routines - and was the best thing they ever did. The inclusion of the routines makes it the definitive M & W work.
Despite being unfamiliar with working without an audience, the boys threw themselves into the piece, supported by some of Britain's finest comedy actors. The result was comedy magic.
A few footnotes. Tutte Lemkov, an actor/choreographer, gives HIS finest performance in the film, as the very definition of the word "sinister".
Sid Green and Dick Hills, then the boys' main TV writers, give a great cameo as two drunks in Eric's espresso bar.
Philip Green, who supplied the music for many classic British comedies, turns in a superb score.
And unusually, the film includes a snippet from another (named) movie - a Robert Mitchum oater. In those days, the clearance problems would normally have made this impossible. And whilst the clip is real, the music comes from Philip Green, replacing the original audio. Bizarre.
Anyhoo, that aside, grab this one if you can - and watch the finest double-act Britain (or America?) ever produced, in their finest hour (and a half).
In reverse order, they are "The Magnificent Two" - a similar film to the contemporaneous Woody Allen piece, "Bananas." However, despite a good effort by the boys, it was a bomb.
Before that, they had had their greatest success with "That Riviera Touch", which many consider to be the best of the three. It had an original plot and Ernie got to sing.
But their first outing combined a feeble Bond-spoof plot with many of the boys' TV routines - and was the best thing they ever did. The inclusion of the routines makes it the definitive M & W work.
Despite being unfamiliar with working without an audience, the boys threw themselves into the piece, supported by some of Britain's finest comedy actors. The result was comedy magic.
A few footnotes. Tutte Lemkov, an actor/choreographer, gives HIS finest performance in the film, as the very definition of the word "sinister".
Sid Green and Dick Hills, then the boys' main TV writers, give a great cameo as two drunks in Eric's espresso bar.
Philip Green, who supplied the music for many classic British comedies, turns in a superb score.
And unusually, the film includes a snippet from another (named) movie - a Robert Mitchum oater. In those days, the clearance problems would normally have made this impossible. And whilst the clip is real, the music comes from Philip Green, replacing the original audio. Bizarre.
Anyhoo, that aside, grab this one if you can - and watch the finest double-act Britain (or America?) ever produced, in their finest hour (and a half).
Know Morecambe and Wise In One Film
mroberts-212 November 1999
As a fan of the classic British comedy, this film has stayed with me since my childhood. It was only through accessing the IMDb that I was able to actually find the name of the film. Eric Morecambe shines brighter than ever in The Intelligence Men with clever deflections off straight characters and using the pretence of knowledge of "spy things" to create classic comedy moments. I.e. being taught spycraft and the side-aching Judo sketch will have you rolling in the aisles. Although what aisles you would having running past your TV are your own business. Not necessary "not to be missed", but certainly not a disappointment as with so many contemporary "blockbusters".
Get hold of this film somehow and let a classic British double act entertain a you. Learn Judo the Morecambe way and "Get out of that!".
Get hold of this film somehow and let a classic British double act entertain a you. Learn Judo the Morecambe way and "Get out of that!".
watch this movie now :D
ypmuts2 September 2002
From the opening introduction of this spy spoof and Bond wannabe to the end credits will have you laughing at the stupidity and silliness of our inept spies...I must have seen this film at least 100 times in my life so far. So much so that I could recite script and dialogue. It's an outright classic of British comedy. Morecambe and Wise have always been a British comedy favorite so their first movie excels. I love the way Eric lusts after the girls with that cheeky schoolboy attitude. If he ever got one of those girls he proberbly wouldn't know what to do with her right away hehe...but it seems he has fun trying! Ernie, on the otherhand, is the best straightman to Erics genius. A perfect match. And Ern does look cute in that blonde wig ;) Good back up comes from various actors but my favorite is Francis Matthews aka Mr. do-do, just watch the judo sketch and the ying-ta-whhoo! Lots of fun for all ages especially if your age is your shoe-size. It never gets tired or old just funnier. Just keep an eye out for Sid and Dick in the cafe and some very silly singing based on 'that song from swan lake'
why the low rating?
gorytus-2067215 April 2021
April 2021
The Intelligence Men is the 1st of the 3 Morecambe and Wise films from the 60s, i personally think they are of the same level and always watch the 3 at the same time.
Great stuff, funny british 60s comedy, enjoy.
Now go and watch the other 2.
9 out of 10.
The Intelligence Men is the 1st of the 3 Morecambe and Wise films from the 60s, i personally think they are of the same level and always watch the 3 at the same time.
Great stuff, funny british 60s comedy, enjoy.
Now go and watch the other 2.
9 out of 10.
The best Morecambe and Wise film ever
martinw-21 December 1998
If you are a fan of Morecambe and Wise, get this film. Loosely based around a typical "spy spoof" plot, the film is a showcase for the talents of the best ever British comedy double act.
The "Judo Sketch" alone ("get out of that") is worth the price of admission :-)
The "Judo Sketch" alone ("get out of that") is worth the price of admission :-)
Quite funny in places
glenn-aylett24 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Most people when they think of Morecambe and Wise, always think of the lavish Christmas specials they made for BBC One in the seventies, but before this they had a very successful run on ITV in the sixties and also ventured into films, though I'd avoid The Magnificent Two is it's just not up to standard and flopped at the box office. Of the three films they made, The Intelligence Men is the funniest.
Basically the plot is this, Eric is a Beatles obsessed coffee bar worker, frequent references to the group occur in the film, who overhears a conversation by a Russian agent in the coffee bar about assasinating a ballerina who is about to defect and both he and best friend Ernie are recruited by MI5 to stop the assassination.
Well Eric and Ernie are to spying what the Police Academy recruits are to policing ie totally inept. Think of a comedy version of From Russia With Love and you can't go wrong. Also memorable is Eric's hilarious line when a contact is poisoned and collapses in front of him in a restaurant
Eric Morecambe: ,on seeing that Phillipe, who is sitting next to him, has just collapsed into his soup after being poisoned, Waiter!
Ernie Sage: Yes?
Eric Morecambe: I have a complaint to make. Ernie Sage: What? Eric Morecambe: There's a dead man in this soup
Also memorable is Ernie singing and not making too bad a job of it, Eric's laughable attempts to learn martial arts( now get out of that, ya ting too), and the climax where Eric and Ernie dress up as not very convincing ballerinas to thwart the Russian assassin during a performance of Swan Lake.
Only bad points are The Intelligence Men is a bit cheaply made and dated in places, though the same could be said of most British comedies at the time, and the more serious actors seem a bit out of place in a comedy romp like this. Otherwise enjoy.
Basically the plot is this, Eric is a Beatles obsessed coffee bar worker, frequent references to the group occur in the film, who overhears a conversation by a Russian agent in the coffee bar about assasinating a ballerina who is about to defect and both he and best friend Ernie are recruited by MI5 to stop the assassination.
Well Eric and Ernie are to spying what the Police Academy recruits are to policing ie totally inept. Think of a comedy version of From Russia With Love and you can't go wrong. Also memorable is Eric's hilarious line when a contact is poisoned and collapses in front of him in a restaurant
Eric Morecambe: ,on seeing that Phillipe, who is sitting next to him, has just collapsed into his soup after being poisoned, Waiter!
Ernie Sage: Yes?
Eric Morecambe: I have a complaint to make. Ernie Sage: What? Eric Morecambe: There's a dead man in this soup
Also memorable is Ernie singing and not making too bad a job of it, Eric's laughable attempts to learn martial arts( now get out of that, ya ting too), and the climax where Eric and Ernie dress up as not very convincing ballerinas to thwart the Russian assassin during a performance of Swan Lake.
Only bad points are The Intelligence Men is a bit cheaply made and dated in places, though the same could be said of most British comedies at the time, and the more serious actors seem a bit out of place in a comedy romp like this. Otherwise enjoy.
The Comedy Men
michaelarmer31 May 2020
A spy spoof, not like the 1967 Casino Royale, this is more obvious, and physical.
Morecambe & Wise are great, the scenes are very funny and have great dialogue, I can't understand why it has a low rating at 5.8 (at the time), maybe its the English humour that doesn't travel well, but my wife is Chinese and she loved it.
It their first feature and not as well made as later films, but it does not stop it being funny, very funny.
And as its supposed to be a comedy film, it is all it needs to be.
Morecambe & Wise are great, the scenes are very funny and have great dialogue, I can't understand why it has a low rating at 5.8 (at the time), maybe its the English humour that doesn't travel well, but my wife is Chinese and she loved it.
It their first feature and not as well made as later films, but it does not stop it being funny, very funny.
And as its supposed to be a comedy film, it is all it needs to be.
Funny - but only a shadow of their TV material
bob the moo4 December 2001
When a coffee shop owner is mistaken for a MI5 spy, the real MI5 enlist his help in uncovering an assassination plot in London. With master of disguise Ernie Sage by his side, Eric Morecambe battles dangers and beautiful women to save the day - whether he knows it or not.
This was Morecambe and Wise's first attempt to take their huge success on TV into film. And it unfortunately doesn't totally carry over. The plot is irrelevant but it doesn't really matter - in fact the film slows down in some scenes where the 'serious' actors have to do dialogue that moves the plot along. Outside of these scenes it's really all about Eric and Ernie doing their usual stand-up routine in different situations.
The film is funny, simply because of Morecambe's act and Wise's straight man, basically each scene is the same as the TV show in that each scene has a basic structure that allows the duo to do their stuff within it. The film contains many very funny scenes that are like this but too many fail because the laughter and improvisation of the TV show has been replaced by tightly scripted scenes and multiple shoots and takes. This takes a lot of the life out of their routine and some bits, most notably the musical numbers fall flat. Having said that, I don't think Eric Morecambe can help but be funny and most of the film is really funny, mainly jokes that are repeated during the film - "get out of that" and the running joke of Eric not recognising Ernie in 'disguise' being some of the best.
Overall this is a funny film simply because of Ernie and Eric. However if you've never seen their TV show then you're missing out on the funniest stuff they've ever done, cause, sadly, this film never comes close to their best.
This was Morecambe and Wise's first attempt to take their huge success on TV into film. And it unfortunately doesn't totally carry over. The plot is irrelevant but it doesn't really matter - in fact the film slows down in some scenes where the 'serious' actors have to do dialogue that moves the plot along. Outside of these scenes it's really all about Eric and Ernie doing their usual stand-up routine in different situations.
The film is funny, simply because of Morecambe's act and Wise's straight man, basically each scene is the same as the TV show in that each scene has a basic structure that allows the duo to do their stuff within it. The film contains many very funny scenes that are like this but too many fail because the laughter and improvisation of the TV show has been replaced by tightly scripted scenes and multiple shoots and takes. This takes a lot of the life out of their routine and some bits, most notably the musical numbers fall flat. Having said that, I don't think Eric Morecambe can help but be funny and most of the film is really funny, mainly jokes that are repeated during the film - "get out of that" and the running joke of Eric not recognising Ernie in 'disguise' being some of the best.
Overall this is a funny film simply because of Ernie and Eric. However if you've never seen their TV show then you're missing out on the funniest stuff they've ever done, cause, sadly, this film never comes close to their best.
Woeful! But the opening credits were great.
doire7 August 2013
I suppose I was expecting the M&W I knew so well from their television programmes, particularly their infamous Christmas specials. This film was not remotely in that class. Eric, normally a very funny man, just tries too hard to get a laugh here - he comes across as desperate to be funny and it doesn't work. A pedestrian effort that is unworthy of two very fine comedians. A top-notch cast is basically wasted in a film that looks fairly cheap, despite an attempt at lavish costume designs in the "Swan Lake" performance. Having said that, though, I did like the opening credits! Whilst not exactly a Saul Bass effort, the music and images did manage to convey a sense that the movie would be concerned with the illusory world of Bondish-like international espionage and intrigue. And wasn't that a photo of the very beautiful Suzy Kendall at the end of those credits? I think so. Her photograph was possibly the best part about the whole Picture.
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