People love to shop online, but for me, nothing beats rummaging through the bins at my local video store. It's a voyage of discovery every time, and not something I'm likely to give up for the convenience of a mouse click. BLIND PICK is a feature where I grab an interesting title that I've never seen and do a quick review.
The Quiller Memorandum (1966)
Released by 20th Century Fox
Dir: Michael Anderson
Starring: George Segal, Alec Guinness, Max Von Sydow, Senta Berger
Why did I buy it?
I have to admit not having seen many George Segal movies, but I love Alec Guinness and Max Von Sydow. Plus, I'm a sucker for a good spy yarn, so I was psyched to check this one out.
What's the story?
1960's West Berlin. After a British spy is murdered, a brash American agent is enlisted to help track down the nazi organization that is responsible. Segal is Quiller; Guinness is his British contact, a man called Pol; von Sydow is Oktober, the nazi leader; Berger is a school teacher who becomes involved with Quiller.
Non-spoilery thoughts?
In 1966, every studio in Hollywood was making spy movies to compete with, or perhaps more accurately, to capitalize on, the mega-success of James Bond. There was a non-stop glut, with productions as varied as Our Man Flint, Casino Royale, and The Spy Who Came In From The Cold; there's something to appeal to any type of viewer. Quiller is on the more serious end of the spectrum, and it played into the real-world fears of a nazi resurgence -- something that I suspect would have made the stakes seem higher and the end of this film even more powerful for audiences of the day.
It's easy to see why Segal was groomed for stardom; he's good-looking and charismatic, and he does a terrific job playing the cocksure secret agent. As the plot twists and turns, Quiller is put through the wringer, and Segal neatly transitions from arrogance to desperation by the end. More screen time would have been nice for Guinness and von Sydow, but they each have a few good moments. Unfortunately, Berger isn't particularly memorable, but I'd have to admit that the script gives her little to do.
There are two standout sequences in the film. The first is an interrogation scene between Oktober and a captured Quiller, which begins in a playful manner, but quickly turns sinister. The other is a 14-minute sequence where Quiller has been given just a few hours to make a very difficult decision. It's a no-win situation that completely strips him of the American bravado that defined him early in the film. Impressively, it plays out nearly dialogue free.
Final verdict?
While the film is lacking that extra "something," which would make it great, The Quiller Memorandum features a couple memorable sequences and is anchored by a strong central performance by George Segal. Anyone who loves post-war espionage pictures should check it out.
People love to shop online, but for me, nothing beats rummaging through the bins at my local movie store. It's a voyage of discovery every time, and not something I'm likely to give up for the convenience of a mouse click. BLIND PICK is a new feature where I'll grab an interesting title that I've never seen, one that I didn't intend to buy until coming across it on the rack, and do a quick review.
The Magus (1968)
Released by: 20th Century Fox
Dir: Guy Green
Starring: Michael Caine, Anthony Quinn, Candice Bergen, Anna Karina
Why did I buy it? Well, between that great title ("Magus" means magician, or sorcerer), the retro cover art, and the talent involved, picking this one up was an easy decision. I didn't even bother to read the back cover before adding it to my pile.
What's the story? Nicholas Urfe (Caine) is an Englishman who skips town on a relationship that's getting too serious for a teaching position on a small Greek island. He is befriended by the charismatic Maurice (Quinn) and falls under the spell of the beautiful Lily (Bergen), a mysterious woman who resides in Maurice's home. But, who is Lily really? Is she Maurice's lover, or his prisoner? Is she a damsel in distress, or a bored temptress? Nothing is what it seems, and Maurice's mind games pull Nicholas deeper into a web of deception that may have dire consequences. He's given one last shot at returning to normal life when ex-lover Anne (Karina) visits Greece, but his curiosity and attraction to Lily is too strong, compelling him to continue in the magus' game.
Non-spoilery thoughts? Directed by Guy Green -- best known as the cinematographer on David Lean's Great Expectations and Oliver Twist -- the film bounces between romantic comedy, melodrama, and surrealism. It's wildly uneven, as are the performances of its three leads, and the camerawork and editing is often spotty. Plus, it features, perhaps, the worst music score imaginable. (Seriously, some of the music cues are laughable.) Without spoiling the secrets of the film's final act, it's difficult to reveal my complex feelings about the story. But, I'd say the last 20-30 minutes is easily the best that the film has to offer, including a surprisingly great flashback for Quinn's character, an elaborate dream sequence, and the revelation of the magus' endgame.
Final verdict? Disappointing, given the talent involved, but it's mysterious and bizarre, and has some cool ideas, making it an interesting footnote in some great careers. Watching this movie with a large midnight crowd could be fun, if Fox were to make it available for revival.
