IMDb > The Deadly Affair (1966)

The Deadly Affair (1966) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   641 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 27% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
John le Carré (novel)
Paul Dehn (screenplay)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Deadly Affair on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
October 1966 (UK) more
Genre:
Plot:
A British agent sets out to uncover the hidden facts behind a British government employee's suicide. | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 5 BAFTA Film Awards. more
User Comments:
Classy classic cold war drama more (32 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

James Mason ... Charles Dobbs

Simone Signoret ... Elsa Fennan
Maximilian Schell ... Dieter Frey
Harriet Andersson ... Ann Dobbs
Harry Andrews ... Insp. Mendel
Kenneth Haigh ... Bill Appleby
Roy Kinnear ... Adam Scarr
Max Adrian ... Adviser (Marlene Dietrich)

Lynn Redgrave ... Virgin (segment "Macbeth")
Robert Flemyng ... Samuel Fennan
Leslie Sands ... Inspector
Corin Redgrave ... David
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
115 min | USA:107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Candice Bergen was first choice as James Mason's unfaithful wife. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Out of It (1969) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Classy classic cold war drama, 15 January 2007
9/10
Author: mike dewey from canton, ohio

Rather than delve into the complex plot machinations already delineated by other reviewers, I would rather touch on other, more understated, qualities present in this excellent fare. Firstly, the ever so poignant soundtrack by Quincy Jones, with its bossa-nova flavored, mesmerizing, soulful backdrop lends an atmosphere of sophistication and class that, to me, is a most essential adjunct to a wonderfully subtle, yet crisp, plot and character development. Secondly, the gut-wrenching performance by Simone Signoret in the scene at her house with James Mason was totally masterful. She totally lambasted the phony pretexts of war and its concomitant warriors, albeit the Great Wars or the more subtle yet equally deadly Cold War, as a bunch of busy-body bureaucrats shouting sanctimonious slogans and sound bites to buttress their flavor-of-the-month, tenuous political positions!

In addition, each of the other actors, especially the lead, James Mason, carries out the demands of his/her respective role with understated finesse. This must be in no small part attributed to the overall thrust of the film: subtle color overtones not only of the film tones, but also the subtlety and understatement of the entire story line and plot development itself. Filmed in an era of James "Bondish" quasi-slapstick and technical gimmickry, "The Deadly Affair" comes across as an intelligent counterpoint to some of the slick, in-your-face cinematic fare of that period, whose motto might indeed be characterized as a "triumph of form over substance".

I hope for the day when, if ever, this film gets released onto DVD format. It is a true gem of the Cold War genre and a true "triumph of substance over form"!

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (32 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Deadly Affair (1966)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
VHS or DVD jgolla
Availability of The Deadly Affair on VHS or DVD mwilliams50
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold The Tailor of Panama Assignment K The Looking Glass War The Riddle of the Sands
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Thriller section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.