At first glance you'd never guess this movie was produced by Harry Saltzmann, the co-producer of that other spy series. (James something-or-other......oh well, it'll come back to me.) This movie has no car chases, nifty gadgets, few ladies and a unrelentingly glum look. Still, i'd trade in all post-Connery-Bonds (that's the one!) for this low-key but effective Cold War thriller. Basically, Bond is for kids, Palmer for adults, who can deal with a plot that makes sense without resorting to cheap gags and exploding helicopters. Caine is pitch perfect as the cynical but loyal Palmer, who always looks after number One but still gets the job done. Do his superiors appreciate him? Do they heck! Ain't that almost like in real life?
Review of Funeral in Berlin
