The Black Windmill (1974)

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

Leigh Vance (screenplay)
Clive Egleton (novel)

Release Date:

2 August 1974 (Finland)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

The ultimate exercise in controlled terror.

Plot:

A British agent's son is kidnapped and held for a ransom of diamonds. The agent finds out that he can't even count on the people he thought were on his side to help him, so he decides to track down the kidnappers himself.

Plot Keywords:

Agent | Ransom | Diamond | Female Nudity | Blood

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Maj. John Tarrant
Donald Pleasence	...	Cedric Harper
Delphine Seyrig	...	Ceil Burrows
Clive Revill	...	Alf Chestermann
John Vernon	...	McKee
Joss Ackland	...	Chief Supt. Wray
Janet Suzman	...	Alex Tarrant
Catherine Schell	...	Lady Melissa Julyan
Joseph O'Conor	...	Sir Edward Julyan
Denis Quilley	...	Bateson
Derek Newark	...	Monitoring Policeman
Edward Hardwicke	...	Mike McCarthy
Maureen Pryor	...	Mrs Harper
Joyce Carey	...	Miss Monley - Harper's Secretary
Preston Lockwood	...	Ilkeston - the bank manager

Also Known As:

Drabble (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (2006) | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:M | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Hampstead, London, England, UK

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The last film role of Russell Napier

Movie Connections:

References Battle of Britain (1969)

One of Caine's best thrillers

In 1965, Caine created the role of Harry Palmer in the Ipcress File. It was good enough to spawn two follow-ups: Funeral in Berlin and the Billion Dollar Brain. By 1974, the movie-going public was used to seeing him in the role of a secret agent. Here he gets in trouble, and although you know that by the end of the film he will emerge victorious, or will he? I'm not telling. But the excruciating fun is in trying to figure our what will happen next. Filmed in Europe, Black Windmill" is directed by Don Siegel. Clint Eastwood credits Don for his success as a director, and, of course, Siegel also directed some of Clint's best movies. The pacing is even throughout and builds to a suspenseful climax. Let it not be overlooked that Donald Pleasence in a supporting role is at his usual best. The human chameleon that adapts beautifully to whatever role is given him. John Vernon is especially menacing. To me, seeing old movies a second or third time is like visiting with old friends. Everybody has their own "Casablanca" and "Shawshank Redemption." If you haven't seen this one yet, please do. It will become one of your "old friends" which I'm sure you will visit again and again.