The Man Outside (1967) User Reviews

Irritating camerawork and intrusive music spoil this film

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 17 February 2023]

It is difficult to understand what the director was trying to achieve. Many tight close ups and strange camera angles make this film at times unwatchable. To add to this there is a jarring and very intrusive musical score. It detracts rather than adds to the suspense.

Another odd thing about this film is the appearance in the opening ten minutes of Ronnie Barker as a Greek agent.

The story is yet another spy tale,one of dozens of similar stories filmed in the sixties. Here we have a rathat weatherbeaten Van Heflin as a CIA agent who has been fired for an error of judgment. He is on the trail of a defector as are the Russians.

It could have been a good film,ruined by the director.

Excellent, little-known film

[infoseeker560 · 10/10 · 28 December 2002]

If you want drama, suspense and mystery, YOU got it all here. Van Heflin provides a riveting seeker of truth here in this 1967 movie. He is also naive, when it comes to his trade. But he quickly learns how to play the game of spy. When you watch it, you think it was made in the 70's.

This movie introduced Heidelinde Weis (to the English-speaking world). She is a great side-kick, and (i guess) romantic partner (?).

Buy and watch this well-made movie.

British Spy Movie with Heidelinde WEIS and ACADEMY AWARD winner Van HEFLIN

[ZeddaZogenau · 8/10 · 29 October 2023]

Spy film gem with Van Heflin and Heidelinde Weis

Made in London based on the novel "Double Agent" by Gene Stackleberry, this film offers an excellent Cold War spy story. The largely unknown Samuel Gallu directed the film. The film was released in West German cinemas on August 25, 1967.

Longtime CIA employee Bill MacLean (Van Heflin) doesn't believe that an old friend of his is a traitor. His doubts are not well received by his superiors. With the help of his good friend's sister (Heidelinde Weis), he researches on his own. When a Soviet spy (Pinkas Braun) wants to defect, the situation escalates...

Peter Vaughan, Charles Gray, Paul Maxwell and Ronnie Barker also star in the very exciting film.

In addition to the great atmosphere, it is above all the great actors that make this almost forgotten film an insider tip.

Van Heflin (1908-1971), who had already received an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1943 for "Der Tote lebt" and was particularly well remembered in "Zähl bis Drei und bete" (1957), is convincing as a thoroughly experienced secret agent . After her success in German cinema ("Die Tote von Beverly Hills / The Dead Woman from Beverly Hills", 1964), the enchanting Heidelinde Weis (born 1940) goes international for the first time and is allowed to wear elegant sixties clothes that make her look like a younger version of Audrey Hepburn . It's such a shame that this fantastic actress wasn't granted a bigger career.

Pinkas Braun (1923-2008), who was born in Zurich and is also known from "Himmel ohne Sterne / Heaven without Stars" (1955) and "Die schwarzen Adler von Santa Fe" (1965), impresses as a defector.

For anyone who loves spy films, this film will be a discovery. More realistic than James Bond and even more exciting!