An interesting if not wholly successful WWII/Spy movie, based (very loosely) on a true story. Unfortunately, the use of a James Bond director and a couple of actors from Bond films naturally prompts comparisons, which is not completely fair. I don't know if Terence Young consciously tried to make a wartime Bond imitation; I simply can't believe he could of regarded Christopher Plummer as a adequate substitute for Sean Connery! But if one disregards the Bondian roots of the movie, "Triple Cross" is a fairly good film. Yes, Plummer is no Sean Connery, but he pulls off a fairly good performance; and if he comes off to viewers as bemused and smirking, then he succeeded in capturing at least one side of the real Eddie Chapman's persona. I agree with previous posters that he and Romy Schneider make an unconvincing pair; they just don't have any chemistry in their scenes together. Also, the script was a bit turgid, especially concerning Yul Brynner's activities, but that wasn't a major handicap.
I think the worst thing about "Triple Cross" is the annoying, "mod" Sixties theme song. A song like that might have worked in a Bond film, but it's totally out-of-place in a thriller set in the 1940's. I remember thinking so when I first saw the movie in 1967, and now of course the theme sounds horribly dated. Surprised they didn't get Tom Jones of "Thunderball" fame to sing it (instead of the unknown Tony Allen)! Well, maybe Tom was busy recording "What's New, Pussycat?".
The rest of the score is an improvement, but still barely adequate. By comparison, that other WWII thriller produced in 1966, "The Night of the Generals", had a much superior musical score -- and without a "hip" theme song! Interestingly, both movies manage to work-in the Hitler assassination plot, and Christopher Plummer even made a cameo appearance in "Night of the Generals" as Rommel.
I think of any movie, "Triple Cross" perhaps has more in common with "The Man Who Never Was"; though admittedly that movie played it much more serious. Seeing the Trevor Howard character immediately reminded me of Clifton Webb, right down to the beard!
I think the worst thing about "Triple Cross" is the annoying, "mod" Sixties theme song. A song like that might have worked in a Bond film, but it's totally out-of-place in a thriller set in the 1940's. I remember thinking so when I first saw the movie in 1967, and now of course the theme sounds horribly dated. Surprised they didn't get Tom Jones of "Thunderball" fame to sing it (instead of the unknown Tony Allen)! Well, maybe Tom was busy recording "What's New, Pussycat?".
The rest of the score is an improvement, but still barely adequate. By comparison, that other WWII thriller produced in 1966, "The Night of the Generals", had a much superior musical score -- and without a "hip" theme song! Interestingly, both movies manage to work-in the Hitler assassination plot, and Christopher Plummer even made a cameo appearance in "Night of the Generals" as Rommel.
I think of any movie, "Triple Cross" perhaps has more in common with "The Man Who Never Was"; though admittedly that movie played it much more serious. Seeing the Trevor Howard character immediately reminded me of Clifton Webb, right down to the beard!