Assignment K (1968)
Synopsis: Having cut his
teeth on comedy, writer and director Val Guest latterly gravitated towards
sci-fi and thrillers. Here he's unable to bring to life a moribund espionage
tale, crucially failing to come close to the strong sense of disillusion that
characterises Martin Ritt's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
Stephen
Boyd gives a charmless performance as a spy working undercover as a toy
manufacturer. Slowly he comes to realise that almost everyone he has trusted
has deceived him. Camilla Sparv is adequate as his German girlfriend, but even
Michael Redgrave, as his loyal lieutenant, and Leo McKern, as his nemesis,
contribute little.
Cast: Stephen Boyd, Camilla Sparv, Michael
Redgrave Runtime: 97 min
*Note: USA and Canadian
customers should check their dvd players for PAL format compatibility. |