Puppet on a Chain (1971)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Geoffrey Reeve

Writers:

Alistair MacLean (novel)
Alistair MacLean (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 January 1972 (Sweden)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

It will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat!

Plot:

Following a triple professional hit a U.S. agent arrives in Amsterdam to investigate a heroin smuggling ring...

Plot Keywords:

Heroin | Police | CIA | Red Light District | Netherlands

Cast

Sven-Bertil Taube	...	Paul Sherman
Barbara Parkins	...	Maggie
Alexander Knox	...	Col. De Graaf
Patrick Allen	...	Insp. Van Gelder
Vladek Sheybal	...	Meegeren
Ania Marson	...	Astrid Lemay
Penny Casdagli	...	Trudi
Peter Hutchins	...	The Assassin
Drewe Henley	...	Jimmy Duclos
Henni Orri	...	Herta
Stewart Lane	...	George Lemay
Mark Malicz	...	Morgenstern
Michael Mellinger	...	Hotel Manager

Also Known As:

Alistair Maclean's Puppet on a Chain (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (1999) | UK:AA (1970) (cut) | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Big City

Trivia:

In her memoirs Suzanna Leigh mentions that she had a role in this film as a villain but, although her character is mentioned, her scenes were deleted from the final print.

Goofs:

Continuity: At one point during the Amsterdam boat chase, the white boat hits a bridge and sustains fairly severe damage to the prow (which is acknowledged in the sound effects). In the next shot, the boat is unblemished again.

Comparason of the speedboat chase in the Amsterdam canals in the English film 'Puppet on a Chain' and Dutch film 'Amsterdamned'.

The speedboat chase in the Amsterdam canals in this film is actually being copied by Dutch director Dick Maas in his 1988 film 'Amsterdamned'. I always thought how original it was to have such an out of the ordinary, yet in Amsterdam obvious chase, but apparently it is less original as I thought. In the 18 year older 'Puppet on a Chain' the chase is as vivid and dynamic as in Maas' film, although one detail in Amsterdamned should catch the viewer's attention. Just like in Puppet on a Chain, the villain almost crashes his boat into an oncoming barge, a thrilling moment. In 'Amsterdamned' this barge has a fanfare band, conducted by 'actor', and Holland's famous Oscar-winning documentary director Bert Haanstra. It makes the already exhilarating scene more colourful, and provides it with a light touch. This detail encapsulates an often noticeable and important difference between English and Dutch film-making if you ask me; It seems that in Dutch films a doses of ridiculing of a serious action or scene is indispensable. Fact of the matter is that the 'original' film, Puppet on a Chain, is more believable because of its absence of this ridiculing. I also find it very interesting to see sceneries of my home country (Holland) in such a serious crime intrigue, where BTW everybody speaks British English!