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Puppet on a Chain

  • 1970
  • PG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Puppet on a Chain (1970)
Following a triple professional hit a U.S. agent arrives in Amsterdam to investigate a heroin smuggling ring. He finds a city rife with drugs and a police force unable or unwilling to do much about it.
Play trailer3:03
1 Video
41 Photos
ActionCrimeThriller

Following a triple professional hit a U.S. agent arrives in Amsterdam to investigate a heroin smuggling ring. He finds a city rife with drugs and a police force unable or unwilling to do muc... Read allFollowing a triple professional hit a U.S. agent arrives in Amsterdam to investigate a heroin smuggling ring. He finds a city rife with drugs and a police force unable or unwilling to do much about it. With his incognito female fellow agent the American is soon stirring things up... Read allFollowing a triple professional hit a U.S. agent arrives in Amsterdam to investigate a heroin smuggling ring. He finds a city rife with drugs and a police force unable or unwilling to do much about it. With his incognito female fellow agent the American is soon stirring things up.

  • Director
    • Geoffrey Reeve
  • Writers
    • Alistair MacLean
    • Paul Wheeler
    • Don Sharp
  • Stars
    • Sven-Bertil Taube
    • Barbara Parkins
    • Alexander Knox
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Geoffrey Reeve
    • Writers
      • Alistair MacLean
      • Paul Wheeler
      • Don Sharp
    • Stars
      • Sven-Bertil Taube
      • Barbara Parkins
      • Alexander Knox
    • 30User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:03
    Watch Trailer

    Photos41

    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Puppet on a Chain (1970)
    Sven-Bertil Taube in Puppet on a Chain (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sven-Bertil Taube
    Sven-Bertil Taube
    • Paul Sherman
    Barbara Parkins
    Barbara Parkins
    • Maggie
    Alexander Knox
    Alexander Knox
    • Colonel De Graaf
    Patrick Allen
    Patrick Allen
    • Inspector Van Gelder
    Vladek Sheybal
    Vladek Sheybal
    • Meegeren
    Ania Marson
    Ania Marson
    • Astrid Lemay
    Penny Casdagli
    • Trudi
    Peter Hutchins
    • The Assassin
    Drewe Henley
    Drewe Henley
    • Jimmy Duclos
    Henny Orri
    • Herta
    • (as Henni Orri)
    Stewart F. Lane
    Stewart F. Lane
    • George Lemay
    • (as Stewart Lane)
    Mark Malicz
    • Morgenstern
    Michael Mellinger
    Michael Mellinger
    • Hotel Manager
    Francis Batsoni
    • Bell Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Brace
    Peter Brace
    • Thug
    • (uncredited)
    Gerry Crampton
    Gerry Crampton
    • Thug
    • (uncredited)
    Arnold Diamond
    Arnold Diamond
    • Coroner
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Dunne
    • Barge-hold henchman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Geoffrey Reeve
    • Writers
      • Alistair MacLean(uncredited)
      • Paul Wheeler
      • Don Sharp
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In her memoirs Suzanna Leigh mentions that she had a role in this film as a villain but, although her character is mentioned, her scenes were deleted from the final print.
    • Goofs
      At one point during the Amsterdam boat chase, the white boat hits a bridge and sustains fairly severe damage to the prow (which is acknowledged in the sound effects). In the next shot, the boat is unblemished again.
    • Quotes

      Maggie: Paul, what are you thinking?

      Paul Sherman: I was thinking about my ex-wife, as a matter of fact.

      Maggie: What was she like?

      Paul Sherman: Very affectionate... with other men. My fault - I was never there.

    • Alternate versions
      Some topless nudity and shots of a man's bloody face during a hotel fight was cut from the film for an 'AA' rating (suitable for persons of 14 and over) for the UK cinema release though this was restored in video releases and TV showings.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Alf Garnett Saga (1972)

    User reviews30

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Va..va..vrooom!
    I've grown up reading Alistair McLean's books and I have watched a couple of movies based on his books. There are some pretty good ones made. But this one is probably the best. Mainly because the characters are pretty interesting and the story line is one of the most original ones you will come across (considering the fact that this is as old as 1972!). Movies on drugs/drug trafficking etc. have been inspired from this slick pic! The hero (Sven Bertil-Taube) is cool as a cucumber (just the way McLean sketched it) .. and he suits his role to the hilt. The plot is usual McLean and the concept is WOW! No review of this film is complete without a mention of the Speed Boat chase in the canals of Amsterdam. My Gawd' ! The "French Connection" road chase, the "Ronin" road chase, the "Tomorrow Never Dies" speed boat chase around the Millennium Dome are all inspired by this superbly crafted sequence which is interspersed with aerial shots, close-ups, action shots and more. Even without a background score, this sequence is great! This movie is a MUST WATCH! :-)Enjoy!
    helpful•18
    10
    • tobyindia
    • Dec 26, 2001

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 2, 1970 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Netherlands
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La poupée aux stupéfiants
    • Filming locations
      • Kasteel Muiderslot - Herengracht 1, Muiden, Noord-Holland, Netherlands(the castle in the film)
    • Production company
      • Big City
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross US & Canada
      • $769,462
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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