The Jigsaw Man (1983)

An MI6 defector has his appearance altered by the K.G.B. and is sent back to Britain to retrieve top-secret documents.

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Dorothea Bennett (novel), Jo Eisinger (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, Susan George

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Philip Kimberley / Sergei Kuzminsky
Laurence Olivier	...	Adm. Sir Gerald Scaith
Susan George	...	Penelope Kimberley / Annabelle Kimberley
Robert Powell	...	Jamie Fraser
Charles Gray	...	Sir James Chorley
Morteza Kazerouni	...	Boris Medvachian
Michael Medwin	...	Milroy
Eric Sevareid	...	Himself
Sabine Sun	...	Dr. Zilenka
David Kelly	...	Cameron
Patrick Dawson	...	Ginger
Vladek Sheybal	...	Gen. Zorin
Peter Burton	...	Douglas Ransom
Maggie Rennie	...	Mrs. Ransom
Richard Aylen	...	Older Kimberley

Storyline

Philip Kimberly, the former head of the British Secret Service who defected to Russia, is given plastic surgery and sent back to Britain by the K.G.B. to retrieve some vital documents. With the documents in hand, he instead plays off MI6 and the K.G.B. against each other.

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Plot Keywords:

plastic surgery | soviet union | london england | traitor | father daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

The Game of Spying, Double Cross, Defection, Betrayal & Death.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

11 November 1983 (UK)

Also Known As:

Das Spiel des Überläufers

Filming Locations:

Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Evangrove, Nitemeg

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally planned for Mike Hodges to direct Sir Michael Caine in their third collaboration after Pulp (1972).

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Goofs

When Kimberly is listening to the news broadcast of his "death", the newscaster refers to the Manhattan Project spy Ethel Rosenberg as Esther Rosenberg.

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Quotes

Philip Kimberley: [reading a paper] "Press agency Moscow. April 27th." But that's six months from now! "The death of Sir Philip Kimberley was announced here today. Former Director General, British Secret Service, defected." It's all here!

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Jude Law/Ashlee Simpson (2004)

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Soundtracks

Only You And I
Music by Georges Garvarentz
Lyrics by Labi Siffre, Scott English
Sung by Dionne Warwick
Produced by Bob Gaudio
Rhythm arrangement by Jeremy Lubbock and Bob Gaudio
String & horn arrangement by Jeremy Lubbock
Recorded by Paul Lani and Rick Ruggieri
Mixed by Ron Hitchcock
Producers assistant: Marla Miller
Recorded at Sound Lab Studios, Los Angeles, California
Song & theme published by P.G.G.

User Reviews

Wobbling its way to cult status

Made after some of the best spy drama movies, including the TV adaptation of Le Carre's Smiley's People, you have to wonder how they got it so wrong. And with Michael Caine, Olivier and Charles Gray! And with the director of the grittiest early Bond movies! It was totally ridiculous as a story and as a film, but also hugely endearing to a Brit who has lived in Asia for over 25 years. I got the same pleasure watching this as I did in seeing the sets wobble in "The Builders" episode of Fawlty Towers. The whole thing wobbled, especially the acting. Oliver's mention of the leather chair to Michael Medwin was the only finely delivered line.