The Venetian Affair (1966)

Former CIA man, Bill Fenner, now a downbeat, loner journalist, is sent to Venice to investigate the shock suicide bombing by an American diplomat at a peace conference.

Director:

Jerry Thorpe

Writers:

E. Jack Neuman (screenplay by), Helen MacInnes (based upon the novel by)

Stars:

Robert Vaughn, Elke Sommer, Felicia Farr

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Vaughn	...	Bill Fenner
Elke Sommer	...	Sandra Fane
Felicia Farr	...	Claire Connor
Karlheinz Böhm	...	Robert Wahl (as Karl Boehm)
Luciana Paluzzi	...	Giulia Almeranti
Boris Karloff	...	Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
Roger C. Carmel	...	Mike Ballard
Edward Asner	...	Frank Rosenfeld
Joe De Santis	...	Jan Aarvan
Fabrizio Mioni	...	Russo
Wesley Lau	...	Neill Carlson
Bill Weiss	...	Goldsmith

Storyline

After an American diplomat inexplicably explodes a bomb during an international peace conference in Venice, killing himself and everyone in the room, CIA boss Frank Rosenfeld calls ex-agent Bill Fenner in on the case. Fenner is forced to find his ex-wife and save her from the clutches of both the good guys and the bad guys, while still obtaining the Vaugiroud report and uncovering the bombing conspiracy.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | venice | venice italy | secret agent | explosion | 

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Taglines:

Based on Helen MacInness' bestseller!

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

10 February 1967 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Intriga en Venecia

Filming Locations:

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Thorpe Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 89 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Fonda was the original choice for the lead role.

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Quotes

Sandra Fane: If you ever loved me, believe me and listen to me now. Don't die for a piece of paper. Don't let him kill you for that.
[tearful]
Sandra Fane: I love you. And I've always loved you.

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Connections

Referenced in Italy's in Season (1967)

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Soundtracks

Our Venetian Affair
Words by Hal Winn
Music by Lalo Schifrin
Sung by Julius LaRosa

User Reviews

Sixties spy rubbish

Any resemblance between this film and reality is purely coincidental. Much of it is shot in the attractive location of Venice, and whereas it is always nice to see canals, it is better still to see a film which is not complete nonsense. So many British films of the sixties were as empty and idiotic as this, and are best forgotten. Robert Vaughn is the star in this meaningless foray into ersatz intrigue. Various people are spies, one does not always know for whom, and they are plotting against each other and killing each other. Elke Sommer and Felicia Farr are the 'dames', with impossible sixties hair-does, false eyelashes longer than a tall tale, and puffy pouty lips (how did they do that before botox?). Sommer keeps telling Vaughn she loves him, quite suitable as she had once been married to him before leaving him without a word two years before, and despite being a Soviet spy, or whatever it is she really is, which is never made clear. Farr loves him. Everybody loves him except those who want to kill him. Why do they want to kill him exactly? He is supposed to work for a 'wire service' but never files a story. Then we are told he has been 'set up'. Then various people are told they can 'never escape from Venice'. Well, I felt I might never escape from that film. Mind control drugs are being used to turn people into 'robots' who will blow themselves up in diplomatic meetings and stop nuclear treaties from being signed. I think the bad guys got to the producer and director and screenwriter first, turned them into mental robots, and ordered them to make this film while in a mindless state. Product warning: May Damage Your Faith in the Cinema.