With the fine cast of prominent actors of the day, "The Liquidator" could and should have been a very good comedy and action film. The plot had all the ingredients to make it a great espionage satire. It's based closely on a 1964 novel of the same title by John Gardner. The book introduced Boysie Oakes who would go on to be in more successful print stories by Gardner.
But, unfortunately, this film comes across as mostly humorless. It's probably due to a combination of the screenplay, the actors and the direction. Most noticeable is a script without any snappy or witty lines. Instead, the comedy tries to rely on situations - most notably the constant temptation and efforts of Robert Taylor's Boysie Oakes to flirt with or eye the girls. Oakes is hired and trained by the British secret service to be an assassin. But, neither the hit man nor the movie are a hit.
The story is set in the Cold War, beginning at the end of WW II. The opening scene tells one that this film may be grasping at straws to try to establish some humor. But, it just doesn't happen. When a film has Trevor Howard, Jill St. John, Rod Taylor, Wiflrid Hyde-White, Akim Tamiroff, David Tomlinson, John Le Mesurier, and Eric Sykes in it, one should expect a very good and successful hit. But a large group such as that couldn't save this one. Indeed, most of the cast don't seem to have any enthusiasm for their parts.
The film's box office of less than $1.2 million doubtless didn't begin to cover the budget with this cast. Unless one is terribly bored, it's best not to watch this film. However, for such a person, this film might raise one from terribly bored to just plain bored. It is a satire all right, but just not a very funny one.
