Puppet on a Chain (1971)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Geoffrey Reeve

Writers:

Alistair MacLean (novel)
Alistair MacLean (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 January 1972 (Sweden)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

It will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat!

Plot:

Following a triple professional hit a U.S. agent arrives in Amsterdam to investigate a heroin smuggling ring...

Plot Keywords:

Heroin | Police | CIA | Red Light District | Netherlands

Cast

Sven-Bertil Taube	...	Paul Sherman
Barbara Parkins	...	Maggie
Alexander Knox	...	Col. De Graaf
Patrick Allen	...	Insp. Van Gelder
Vladek Sheybal	...	Meegeren
Ania Marson	...	Astrid Lemay
Penny Casdagli	...	Trudi
Peter Hutchins	...	The Assassin
Drewe Henley	...	Jimmy Duclos
Henni Orri	...	Herta
Stewart Lane	...	George Lemay
Mark Malicz	...	Morgenstern
Michael Mellinger	...	Hotel Manager

Also Known As:

Alistair Maclean's Puppet on a Chain (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (1999) | UK:AA (1970) (cut) | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Big City

Trivia:

In her memoirs Suzanna Leigh mentions that she had a role in this film as a villain but, although her character is mentioned, her scenes were deleted from the final print.

Goofs:

Continuity: At one point during the Amsterdam boat chase, the white boat hits a bridge and sustains fairly severe damage to the prow (which is acknowledged in the sound effects). In the next shot, the boat is unblemished again.

Worthy of a good DVD release

Back in the early 1970's the name "Alistair MacLean" meant "bums on seats ~ ticket sales" and the cinematic release of one of his most recent novels "Puppet on a Chain" was no exception.

It is wrong to compare this action movie (as with many, many others) with the on-going JB007 franchise: this was a formulaic movie in its own field. The action scenes are great, the storyline was then bang up-to-date and the general production (if marred a little by lack of budget) of a high standard.

Contrary to other views, in my opinion, the leading actor Sven Bertil-Taube was excellent in the role (a shame the script required him to be an American agent) and he was well supported by several character (if rather stock) actors. Pehaps Barbara Perkins was not the best choice as leading lady and her character lacked realism but then this was never meant to be anything other than entertainment.

Contains a superb score by the Maestro: Piero Piccioni.

Far from perfect but still very good and worthy of a decent DVD release.