Topaz (1969)

A French Intelligence Agent becomes embroiled in the Cold War politics first with uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and then back to France to break up an international Russian spy ring.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Leon Uris (from the novel by), Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay) (as Samuel Taylor)

Stars:

Frederick Stafford, Dany Robin, John Vernon

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Frederick Stafford	...	Andre Devereaux
Dany Robin	...	Nicole Devereaux
John Vernon	...	Rico Parra
Karin Dor	...	Juanita de Cordoba
Michel Piccoli	...	Jacques Granville
Philippe Noiret	...	Henri Jarre
Claude Jade	...	Michele Picard
Michel Subor	...	Francois Picard
Per-Axel Arosenius	...	Boris Kusenov
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Philippe Dubois
Edmon Ryan	...	McKittreck
Sonja Kolthoff	...	Mrs. Kusenov
Tina Hedström	...	Tamara Kusenov (as Tina Hedstrom)
John Van Dreelen	...	Claude Martin
Donald Randolph	...	Luis Uribe (as Don Randolph)

Storyline

A high ranking Russian official defects to the U.S., where he is interviewed by U.S. Agent Michael Nordstrom. The defector reveals that a French spy ring codenamed "Topaz" has been passing N.A.T.O. secrets to the Russians. Michael calls in his French friend and counterpart Andre Devereaux to expose the spies.

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | cold war | spy | defection | cuban missile crisis | 

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Taglines:

Hitchcock takes you behind the actual headlines to expose the most explosive spy scandal of the century!

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Topas: Gallery, Credits, Plot, Links.

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French Russian

Release Date:

19 December 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alfred Hitchcock's Topaz

Filming Locations:

Place Gaillon, Paris 2, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min 127 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leon Uris wrote the first draft of the screenplay, but Sir Alfred Hitchcock declared it unshootable at the last minute, and called in Samuel A. Taylor (writer of Vertigo (1958)) to re-write it from scratch. Some scenes were written just a few hours before they were shot.

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Goofs

While talking to the Mendozas before they leave for their picnic, in the first shot Juanita is leaning over a map with both hands on the table. In the very next shot she is standing straight with her hands in her pockets.

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Quotes

Philippe Dubois: I think I'll go as a reporter. I'm loaded with press cards. Ebony, Playboy, Newsweek...
Andre Devereaux: Ebony.
Philippe Dubois: I think Playboy is more my style.
Andre Devereaux: [shakes head] Ebony.
Philippe Dubois: Man, you're square!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: Somewhere in this crowd is a high Russian official who disagrees with his government's display of force and what it threatens. Very soon his conscience will force him to attempt an escape while apparently on a vacation with his family. Copenhagen, Denmark Nineteen Hundred Sixty-two

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Alternate Versions

Three alternative endings:

• The Duel
• The Airport
• The Suicide

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Connections

Featured in 'Topaz': An Appreciation by Film Critic/Historian Leonard Maltin (2001)

User Reviews

Underrated Hitchcock

I agree completely with the previous reviewer that "Topaz", while not in the same ballpark as Hitchcock's best is still an underrated film that's gotten too much of a bum rap. I appreciate the fact that it's willing to take a look at the Castro regime for exactly what it has been and always will be. The tense scene where we watch Roscoe Lee Browne from a distance, with no dialogue and only the sound of street noises, bribe a Cuban official to get important material, ranks with Hitchcock's best. And Karin Dor is both radiantly sexy and courageous as a Cuban resistance leader. The ending is a bit abrupt and weak though, and I probably would have preferred one of the two alternate endings featured in the laser disc supplement.