PLEASE NOTE: This is a review of the British version, which runs no less than 98 minutes. Understandably, the movie was cut to 84 minutes in the U.S.A., but this version seems to have disappeared.
SYNOPSIS: An attempt to smuggle an East European scientist into the U.S.A., is hampered by international gangsters.
COMMENT: The popular thriller writer, Alistair MacLean, tackles the Camargue in this one. As might be expected, the action scenes are genuinely exciting. The photography and music score are also most effective, but the film is unfortunately saddled with an unimpressive cast (aside from the lovely Miss Rampling), directed in a monotonous TV style of close-up, after close-up, after close-up. This remarkably dull and ham-fisted approach not only emphasizes the tedious, hokey dialogue, but it also points up and draws audience attention to all the the seams and red herrings in the plot. True, actual locations help to restore a bit of interest, but not enough to capture an audience's constant attention.
SYNOPSIS: An attempt to smuggle an East European scientist into the U.S.A., is hampered by international gangsters.
COMMENT: The popular thriller writer, Alistair MacLean, tackles the Camargue in this one. As might be expected, the action scenes are genuinely exciting. The photography and music score are also most effective, but the film is unfortunately saddled with an unimpressive cast (aside from the lovely Miss Rampling), directed in a monotonous TV style of close-up, after close-up, after close-up. This remarkably dull and ham-fisted approach not only emphasizes the tedious, hokey dialogue, but it also points up and draws audience attention to all the the seams and red herrings in the plot. True, actual locations help to restore a bit of interest, but not enough to capture an audience's constant attention.