The Quiller Memorandum (1966)

In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate.

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

Trevor Dudley Smith (based on the novel by) (as Adam Hall), Harold Pinter (screenplay)

Stars:

George Segal, Alec Guinness, Max von Sydow

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
George Segal	...	Quiller
Alec Guinness	...	Pol
Max von Sydow	...	Oktober
Senta Berger	...	Inge Lindt
George Sanders	...	Gibbs
Robert Helpmann	...	Weng
Robert Flemyng	...	Rushington
Peter Carsten	...	Hengel
Ernst Walder	...	Grauber
Edith Schneider	...	Headmistress
Philip Madoc	...	Oktober's Man (Man with brown trousers)
Günter Meisner	...	Hassler (as Gunter Meisner)
John Rees	...	Oktober's Man (Man with black-rimmed glasses)

Storyline

Two British agents are murdered by a mysterious Neo-Nazi organization in West Berlin. The British Secret Service sends agent Quiller to investigate. Soon Quiller is confronted with Neo-Nazi chief "Oktober" and involved in a dangerous game where each side tries to find out the enemy's headquarters at any price.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | neo nazi | cold war | british intelligence | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

He played the most dangerous game in Europe, and he played it alone.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

15 December 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Quiller Memorandum

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Rank Organisation, Ivan Foxwell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) (uncredited)

Color:

Color (DeLuxe) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though this movie was made over twenty years after the end of World War II, the devastation of Berlin was so vast, the set decorators weren't required to "re-create" exterior areas for filming, just interiors.

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Goofs

During the car chase scene, the cars behind Segal's Porsche appear and disappear, and are sometimes alongside his car, on the drivers (left) side..

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Quotes

Quiller: Met a man called Oktober.
Pol: Oh yes?
Quiller: Know him?
Pol: We've never actually met.
Quiller: At the end of our conversation, he ordered them to kill me.
Pol: And did they?

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Connections

Referenced in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

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Soundtracks

Theme Song - "WEDNESDAY'S CHILD"
Music by John Barry
Lyric by Mack David
Sung by Matt Monro

User Reviews

In Berlin during filming

This film has special meaning for me as I was living in Berlin during the filming and, subsequent screening in the city. Mind you, in 1966-67 the Wall was there, East German border guards and a definite (cold war) cloud hanging over the city. I loved seeing and feeling the night shots in this film and, as it was shot on location, the sense of reality was heightened for me. Very eerie film score, I believe John Barry did it but, I'm not sure. George Segal was good at digging for information without gadgets. A bit too sardonic at times, I think his character wanted to be elsewhere, clashing with KGB agents instead of ferreting out neo-nazis. I feel this film much more typified real counter espionage in the 60's as opposed to the early Bond flicks (which I love, by the way). Senta Berger was gorgeous! And, the final scene (with her and Segal) is done extremely well (won't spoil it for those who still wish to see it...it fully sums up the film, the tension filled times and cold war-era Germany). Also contains one of the final appearences of George Sanders in a brief role, a classic in his own right!