Hide and Seek (1964)

A Cambridge astrophysicist on routine business in London finds it frustratingly difficult to return a wallet of money to an Eastern European friend, a task complicated by a puzzling if scatterbrained society girl.

Director:

Cy Endfield

Writers:

Robert Foshko, Harold Greene (novel)

Stars:

Ian Carmichael, Curd Jürgens, Janet Munro

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Carmichael	...	David Garrett
Curd Jürgens	...	Hubert Marek
Janet Munro	...	Maggie
George Pravda	...	Frank Melnicker
Kieron Moore	...	Paul
Hugh Griffith	...	Wilkins
Derek Tansley	...	Chambers
James Houlihan	...	1st Thug
Leslie Crawford	...	2nd Thug
Esma Cannon	...	Tea Lady
Kynaston Reeves	...	Hunter
Edward Chapman	...	McPherson
Frederick Peisley	...	Cottrell
Cyril Cross	...	1st Agent
Monty Warren	...	2nd Agent

Storyline

A professor of astronomy helping on a missile development program. An old friend of his is a Russian chess champion. The Russian is working with shady businessman Marek and they plan to kidnap the professor and make it look as though he has defected to the Soviet Union.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | independent film | 

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Taglines:

The Dangerous Game That Two Can Play!

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Genres:

Action | Thriller | Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1964 (UK)

Also Known As:

Cheque Mate

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albion Film Corp. (I)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cy Endfield directed this small comedy-thriller quite some time before his epic film, "Zulu", but it was not released until some six months after that large-scale production. It was one of several British films released in 1964 after spending well over a year on the shelf - others included "The Leather Boys", "Ladies Who Do" and "The Comedy Man".

User Reviews

Another story of the conventional man rescued from his conventionality by an unconventional woman.

This sixties era B-film used to appear occasionally on late-night TV, but in recent years seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. It deserved a better fate.

On the surface, the film plods along as an offbeat, tongue-in-cheek spy thriller. Ian Carmichael's stuffy and uncomfortable-looking astrophysicist is drawn out of his boring existence and into a web of international intrigue, after an encounter with an old friend from the other side of the Iron Curtain leads him into the clutches of an alluring but devious female (played by Janet Munro). A series of increasingly improbable adventures ensues, from which he emerges, at the end, somewhat less stuffy and uncomfortable-looking. (And this was surely the point of it all, to wind up somewhat less stuffy and uncomfortable-looking, as surely as Alan Bates was meant to wind up dancing on the beach with Anthony Quinn at the end of "Zorba the Greek".)

Much the same sort of plot one encounters in films such as "Silver Streak" and "Something Wild", both of which were made some years later. The strength of this particular film is the chemistry of its characters. Carmichael's professor develops just enough wit to prevent him from becoming a total bore. Janet Munro is especially engaging as the temptress. Oscar-winner Hugh Griffith is a standout as a rum-drinking, Shakespeare-quoting bargeman. And Curt Jurgens never takes himself too seriously as the villain of the piece.

All in all, an amusing little entry into the liberation-through-madness genre. Certainly not in the same league as "Zorba the Greek". On the other hand, I would much rather wind up dancing on the beach with Janet Munro than with Anthony Quinn.