The film has that beautiful, pristine look that seems to only come about in mid-60's cinema, made even more so by the clean appearance and tailored lines of the clothing on the supporting cast and the extras. This well-drawn tale of espionage is set in West B. This is the first in the series, and it seems to have a reputation for being a little different from what would become the typical Quiller novel. Alec Guinness gets to play a Smiley prototype but brings too much Noel Coward to the table. I can see where some might find it more exhausting than anything else, though--he does get tired :). Scriptwriter Harold Pinter, already with two of the best adapted screenplays of the 1960s British New Wave under his belt (The Servant and The Pumpkin Eater), adapted his screenplay for Quiller from Adam Halls 1965 novel, The Berlin Memorandum. effective, low key, intelligent, spy film, Attractive, thoughtful spy film with an excellent cast. The thugs believe him dead when they see the burning wreckage. Quiller continues his subtle accusations, and Inge continues her denial of ever meeting Jones. It keeps the reader engrossed right up to the last couple of lines. Their aim is to bring back the Third Reich. Sort of a mixed effect clouds this novel. But admittedly its a tricky business second-guessing his dramatic instincts here. There was also a TV series in 1975.
The Quiller Memorandum : definition of The Quiller Memorandum and Defiant undercover spy Quiller carries out a nervy , stealthy , prowling around Berlin in which he becomes involved into a risked cat and mouse game , being chased and hunted , by a strange and sinister leader , known only as Oktober (Max Von Sidow) . Journeyman director Michael Andersons The Quiller Memorandum, which was as defiantly anti-Bond as you could get in 1966, has just been rescued from DVD mediocrity by the retro connoisseurs at Twilight Time and given a twenty-first-century Blu-ray upgrade. As such, it was deemed to be in the mode of The Ipcress File (1965) and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965). As classic as it gets. The Quiller series is highly regarded by the spy-fiction community, and as strange as it may seem - because I have had most of the books for years - I have never actually read them. I am not saying he was bad in the filmor at least that bad. But Quiller shares an important kinship with Spy in that it challenges popular 007 mythmaking: freshly envisioning the unglamorous underside of an intelligence profession that the James Bond franchise had been relentlessly trivializing since its inception. THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (3 outta 5 stars) The 1960s saw a plethora of two kinds of spy movies: the outrageous semi-serious James Bond ripoffs (like the Flint and Matt Helm movies) and the very dry, methodical ones that were more talk than action (mostly John Le Carre and Alistair MacLean adaptations). The novel was titled The Berlin Memorandum and at its centre was the protagonist and faceless spy, Quiller. Variety wrote that "it relies on a straight narrative storyline, simple but holding, literate dialog and well-drawn characters". As usual for films which are difficult to pin down . Very eerie film score, I believe John Barry did it but, I'm not sure. Instead, the screenplay posits a more sinister threat: the nascent re-Nazification of German youths, facilitated by an underground coven of Nazi sympathizing grade-school teachers. The Quiller Memorandum, based on a novel by Adam Hall (pen name for Elleston Trevor) and with a screenplay by Harold Pinter, deals with the insidious upsurge of neo-Nazism in Germany.
The Quiller Memorandum Audible Audiobook - Unabridged As other reviewers have suggested, this Cold War Neo-Nazi intrigue is more concerned with subtle, low-key plot evolution than the James Bond in-your-face-gadgetry genre that was prevalent during the 60's-70's. It relies on a straight narrative storyline, simple but holding, literate dialog and well-drawn characters. And, the final scene (with her and Segal) is done extremely well (won't spoil it for those who still wish to see itit fully sums up the film, the tension filled times and cold war-era Germany). 15 years after the end of WW II. The novel was titledThe Berlin Memorandum and at its centre was the protagonist and faceless spy, Quiller. His dry but quick Yiddish humor shines through on many occasions, providing diversions that masquerade his underlying desire to expose the antagonists' machinations. The film was shot on location in West Berlin and in Pinewood Studios, England. This was evidently the first of a very long series featuring the spy Quiller. I'm generally pretty forgiving of film adaptations of novels, but the changes that were made just do not make sense. The whole thing, including these two actors, is as hollow as a shell. In this first book in the QUILLER series, undercover agent Quiller is asked to take the place of a fellow spy who has recently been murdered in Berlin, in identifying the headquarters of an underground but powerful Nazi organization, Phnix, twenty years . Segal is a very young man in this, with that flippant, relaxed quality that made him so popular. They wereso popularthat in 1966 a film was made the title waschanged to The Quiller Memorandum and from then on all future copies of the book were published under this title, rather than the original. In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate. George Segal provides us with a lead character who is somewhat quirky in his demeanor, yet nonetheless effective in his role as an agent. If your idea of an exciting spy thriller involves boobs, blondes and exploding baguettes, then The Quiller Memorandum is probably not for you.
The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Michael Anderson | Review | AllMovie [7][8], Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Quiller_Memorandum&oldid=1135714025, "Wednesday's Child" main theme (instrumental), "Wednesday's Child" vocal version (lyrics: Mack David / vocals: Matt Monro), "Have You Heard of a Man Called Jones?"
The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - IMDb Blu-ray, color, 105 min., 1966. In the relationship between Quiller and Inge, Pinter casts just enough ambiguity over the proceedings to allow us plebian moviegoers our small participatory role in the production of meaning. And of course, no spy-spoof conversation would be complete without mentioning 1967s David Niven-led piss-take on the Bond films, Casino Royale. This is a nom de plume for author. Press J to jump to the feed. Michael Anderson directs with his usual leaden touch. Each reveal, in turn, provides a separate level of truth--or, as it may be, self-deception. Also the increasing descent into the minutiae of spycraft plays into the reveal, plot-wise as well as psychologically. He begins openly asking question about Neo-Nazis and is soon kidnapped by a man known only as "Oktober". Older ; About;
The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall - Goodreads Quiller's assignment: to discover the location of the neo-Nazi . His investigations (and baiting) lead him to a pretty schoolteacher (Berger) who he immediately takes a liking to and who may be of assistance to him in his quest. True, Segal never seems to settle into the role of Quiller. It is very rare that I find anyone else who is even aware of the Quiller books and yet they are as your reviewer mentions, absolutely first class. One of my all time favorites and the film too. 42 editions. You are the hero of an extraordinary novel that shows how a spy works, how messages are coded and decoded, how contacts are made, how a man reacts under the influence of truth drugs, and that traces the story of a vastly complex, entertaining, convincing, and sinister plot. After all, his characters social unease and affectless personality are presumably components of the movies contra-Bond commitment. I recently found and purchased all 19 of the series in hardback and read them serially. Lindt (Berger) is a school teacher who meets Quiller to translate for him. An almost unrecognizable George Segal stars in "The Quiller Memorandum," set in Berlin and made 40 years ago. But Quiller is an equal to a James Bond, or a George Smiley. But how could she put up with the love scenes with the atrocious Segal? It out the quiller? The plot holes are many. The Phoenix group descend and take Quiller, torturing him to find out what he knows.
The Quiller Memorandum | Mountain Xpress The first thing to say about this film is that the screenplay is so terrible. Its there to tackle the dirty jobs, and Quiller is the Bureaus go-to guy. Always under-appreciated by U.S. audiences, it's a relief to know that she's had a major impact on the German film community in later years. Segal plays a secret agent assigned to ferret out the headquarters of a Neo-Nazi movement in Berlin. 1 jamietre 8 mo. My take was, he knows she's one of the bad guys, and same with the headmistress who he passes on the way out. Which is to say that in Quillers world, death is dispensed via relatively banal means like bombs and bullets instead of, say, dagger shoes and radioactive lint. Required fields are marked *. And the legendary John Barrycomposer of the original Bond themeprovides appropriately haunting incidental music here. A spy thriller for chess players. For example operatives are referred to as ferrets, and thats what they are. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett, Norwegian crime show Witch Hunt comes to Walter Presents, The Wall: Quebec crime show comes to More4, Irish crime drama North Sea Connection comes to BBC Four, The complete guide to Mick Herrons Slough House series. Hengel gives Quiller the few items found on Jones: a bowling alley ticket, a swimming pool ticket and a newspaper article about a Nazi war criminal found teaching at a school. It is the first book in the 20-volume Quiller series. This one makes no exception. The British Secret Service sends agent Quiller to investigate.
The Quiller Memorandum 1966, directed by Michael Anderson | Film review America's leading magazine on the art and politics of the cinema. The classic tale of espionage that started it all! I liked that the main character was ornery and tired and smart and still made mistakes and tried to see all possible outcomes at once and fought more against jumping to conclusions and staying alert and clear-headed than he did directly against the villains themselves. 2023's Most Anticipated Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-offs, Dirk Bauer
. It's not often that one wishes so much for a main character to get killed, especially by NAZI's. The only really interesting thing is the way we're left spoiler: click to read in the end. The Quiller Memorandum - Rate Your Music What is the French language plot outline for The Quiller Memorandum (1966)? No doubt Quiller initially seems like a slow-witted stumblebum, but his competence as an agent begins to reveal itself in due course: for instance, we find out he speaks fluent German; in a late scene, he successfully uses a car bomb to fake his own death and fool his adversaries; and along the way he exhibits surprisingly competent hand-to-hand combat skills in beating up a few Nazi bullyboys. Michael Anderson directs a classy slice of '60s spy-dom. Quiller is released. When Quiller returns to his hotel, a porter bumps Quiller's leg with a suitcase on the steps. They say 'what a pity' with droll indifference as they eat their roast pheasant and take note of which operatives have been killed this week. In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate.In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate.In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate. In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate. Neo-Nazi plot International in its scope its contributors include scholars from Australia, Quiller . . In the process, he discovers a complex and malevolent plot, more dangerous to the world than any crime committed during the war. American agent Quiller (George Segal) arrives in Berlin and meets with his British handler Pol (Alec Guinness). [5], According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $2,600,000 in rentals to break even and made $2,575,000, meaning it initially showed a marginal loss, but subsequent television and home video sales moved it into the black. In the following chapter the events have moved on beyond the crisis, instantly creating a how? question in your mind. I loved seeing and feeling the night shots in this film and, as it was shot on location, the sense of reality was heightened for me. Although the situations are often deadly serious, Segal seems to take them lightly; perhaps in the decade that spawned James Bond, he was confused and thought he was in a spy spoof. Soon after his amorous encounter with Inge, Quiller is drugged on the street by a crafty hypodermic-wielding operative and wakes up in a seedy basement full of stern-looking Nazis in business attire. Oktober demands Quiller reveal the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) base by dawn or Inge will be killed. Oktober informs Quiller that if he does not disclose secret information this time, both he and Inge will be killed. He first meets with Pol, who explains that each side is trying to discover and annihilate the other's base. When drug-induced questioning fails to produce results, Segal is booted to the river, but he isn't quite ready to give in yet. The film was shot on location in West Berlin and in Pinewood . The latter reveals a local teacher has been unmasked as a Nazi. I found it an interesting and pleasant change of pace from the usual spy film, sort of in the realm of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (but not quite as good). It certainly held my interest, partly because it was set in Berlin and even mentioned the street I lived on several times. Just watched it. This is an espionage series that started in the '60's and ran through the '90's. He is shot dead by an unseen gunman. I know several spy fiction fans who rate Quiller highly; I'd read a couple and thought they were only OK, plus seen and enjoyed the film (which fans of the novel tend to dislike). Von Sydow (one of the few actors to have recovered from playing Jesus Christ and gone on to a varied and lengthy career) is excellent. Don't bother watching it, except to see the many scenes shot on location in West Berlin at that time, with its deserted streets and subdued mood. George Segal's Quiller isn't intense, smart, calculating--qualities Quiller is known for--instead he comes across as a doofus by comparison, better suited to sports-writing or boxing, completely lacking in cunning. A handful of engaging spy thrillers followed before the author paused his novels to focus on journalism, although its also worth noting that he has freelanced. An American agent is sent to Berlin to track down the leaders of a neo-Nazi organization, but when they . Hall (also known as Elleston Trevor and several other pseudonyms) seemed really to hate the Germans, or at least his character did. In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate. Oktober reveals they are moving base the next day and that they have captured Inge. Movie Info After two British Secret Intelligence Service agents are murdered at the hands of a cryptic neo-Nazi group known as Phoenix, the suave agent Quiller (George Segal) is sent to Berlin to. Pol tells Quiller that Kenneth Lindsay Jones, a fellow agent and friend of Quiller's, was killed two days earlier by a neo-Nazi cell operating out of Berlin. The characters and dialog are well-written and most roles are nicely acted. For my money, the top three cold war spy novelists were Le Carre, Deighton, and Adam Hall. Quiller's assignment is to take over where Jones left off. Directed by Michael Anderson; produced by Ivan Stockwell; screenplay by Harold Pinter; cinematography by Erwin Hiller; edited by Frederick Wilson; art direction by Maurice Carter; music by John Barry; starring George Segal, Max Von Sydow, Alec Guinness, Senta Berger, and guest stars George Stevens and Robert Helpmann. Hes lone wolf who lives or dies by his own actions a very clean and principled approach to espionage. The movie made productive use of the West German locations. The Quiller Memorandum book. He recruits Berger to help him infiltrate the Neo-Nazis and discover their base of operations, but, once again, is thwarted. Hassler drives them to meet an old contact he says knows a lot more, who turns out to be Inge's headmistress. A crisply written story that captured my attention from beginning to end. Quiller investigates, but hes being followed and has been since the moment he entered Berlin. In addition to Pinters screenplay, the film was noted for its plot twists and the portrayal of Quiller as refreshingly vulnerable and occasionally inept. On paper, this film had all the makings of a potential masterpiece: youve got a marquee cast, headed up by George Segal, Max Von Sydow, and Alec Guinness, for starters. In the process, he discovers a complex and malevolent plot, more dangerous to the world than any crime committed during the war. A Twilight Time release. Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. In fact, he is derisory about agents who insist on being armed. Quiller is surprised to learn that no women were found. After two British agents are killed while investigating Phoenix, a neo-Nazi group, Quiller is tasked with finding the organizations leader. Quiller manages to outwit his opponent yet again, leading to his arrest. And whats more, Quillers espionage tale is free of the silly gimmicks and gadgetry that define the escapist Bond franchise. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. That way theres no-one to betray him to the other side. His romantic interest is Senta Berger, whose understated and laconic dialog provides the perfect counterpoint to Segal's character. Whats left most open to interpretation is Inges role in all this: was she a Janus-faced Nazi mole who used sex as a weapon to lead Quiller into a trap? Alec Guinness is excellent as a spy chief, and he gives a faint whiff of verisimilitude to this hopeless film. We never find out histrue identity or his history. The cast is full of familiar faces: Alec Guinness, who doesn't have much of a role, George Sanders, who has even less of one, Max von Sydow in what was to become a very familiar part for him, Robert Helpmann, Robert Flemyng, and the beautiful, enigmatic Senta Berger. He manages to get over the wall of his garage stall as well as the adjoining one and then outside to the side of the building before detonation. The source novel "The Berlin Memorandum" is billed in the credits as being by Adam Hall. What will Quiller do? Although competing against a whole slew of other titles in the spies-on-every-corner vein, the novel, "The Quiller Memorandum" was amazingly successful in book stores. How nice to see you again! and so forth. I too read the Quiller novels years ago and found them thrilling and a great middle ground between the super-spy Bond stories and the realism of Le Carre. By day, the city is presented so beautifully, it's hard to imagine that such ugly things are going on amidst it. ago Just watched it. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Turner Classic Movies