The Quiller Memorandum (1966)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

Trevor Dudley Smith (novel)
Harold Pinter (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 December 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

QUILLER...he's not just another spy - If he shatters your nerves, remember- he's living on his!

Plot:

Two British agents are murdered by a mysterious Neonazi organization in West Berlin. The British Secret Service sends agent Quiller to investigate...

Plot Keywords:

Berlin | Car Chase | Spies | Truth Serum | Telephone Booth

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

Cast

George Segal	...	Quiller
Alec Guinness	...	Pol
Max von Sydow	...	Oktober
Senta Berger	...	Inge Lindt
George Sanders	...	Gibbs
Robert Helpmann	...	Weng
Robert Flemyng	...	Rushington
Peter Carsten	...	Hengel
Ernst Walder	...	Grauber
Edith Schneider	...	Headmistress
Philip Madoc	...	Oktober's Man (Man with brown trousers)
Günter Meisner	...	Hassler (as Gunter Meisner)
John Rees	...	Oktober's Man (Man with black-rimmed glasses)

Runtime:

104 min | Austria:95 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Iceland:12 | Norway:16 | USA:Approved (certificate #21414) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Blauer Affe, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Ivan Foxwell Productions

Trivia:

Average Shot Length = ~7.4 seconds. Median Shot Length = ~7.6.

Quotes:

Oktober: Don't blame it on me, blame it on the Bosa Nova.

Soundtrack:

Downtown

In Berlin during filming

This film has special meaning for me as I was living in Berlin during the filming and, subsequent screening in the city. Mind you, in 1966-67 the Wall was there, East German border guards and a definite (cold war) cloud hanging over the city. 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. Very eerie film score, I believe John Barry did it but, I'm not sure. George Segal was good at digging for information without gadgets. A bit too sardonic at times, I think his character wanted to be elsewhere, clashing with KGB agents instead of ferreting out neo-nazis. I feel this film much more typified real counter espionage in the 60's as opposed to the early Bond flicks (which I love, by the way). Senta Berger was gorgeous! And, the final scene (with her and Segal) is done extremely well (won't spoil it for those who still wish to see it...it fully sums up the film, the tension filled times and cold war-era Germany). Also contains one of the final appearences of George Sanders in a brief role, a classic in his own right!