In a feint to see if Quiller will reveal more by oversight, Oktober decides to spare his life. Alec Guiness and George Sanders have brief roles as Segal's Control and Home Office head, respectively, and both rather coldly and matter-of-factly pooh-pooh over the grisly death of Segal's agent predecessor. What will Quiller do? Elleston Trevor wrote 19 novels in the highly successful Quiller series. Thank God Segal is in it. The Chief of the Secret Service Pol (Alec Guinness) summons the efficient agent Quiller (George Segal) to investigate the location of organization's headquarter. He brings graceful authority and steely determination to his role. I know several spy fiction fans who rate Quiller highly; I'd read a couple and thought they were only OK, plus seen and enjoyed the film (which fans of the novel tend to dislike). Segal plays Quiller with a laconic but likeable detachment, underlining the loneliness and lack of relaxation of the agent, who can- not even count on support from his own side. movies. If you have seen this movie, and it leaves you very dissatisfied or with a bunch of bright orange question marks, don't worry ! Quiller had the misfortune to hit cinemas hot on the heels of two first-rate examples of Bond backlash: Martin Ritts gritty The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and the first (and easily best) entry in the acclaimed Harry Palmer trilogy, The Ipcress File, both released in 1965. For example operatives are referred to as ferrets, and thats what they are. Can someone explain it to me? Finally, paint the result in Barbie pink and baby blue That's more or less what happened to Adam Hall's spy novel for this movie. Quiller's assignment is to take over where Jones left off. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - IMDb In terms of style The Quiller books aretaut and written with narrative pace at the forefront. In the process, he discovers a complex and malevolent plot, more dangerous to the world than any crime committed during the war. Fans of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" will notice that film's Mr. Slugworth (Meisner) in a small role as the operator of a swim club (which features some memorably husky, "master race" swimmers emerging from the pool.) But don't let it fool you for one minutenor Mr. Segal, nor Senta Berger as the girl. My take was, he knows she's one of the bad guys, and same with the headmistress who he passes on the way out. When Quiller arrives inthe cityhis handler gives him three items found on a dead agent: tickets to a swimming pool and a bowling alley along with a newspaper cutting. This well-drawn tale of espionage is set in West Berlin, 15 years after the end of WW II. NR. After their first two operatives leading the field mission are assassinated in subsequent order, the British Secret Service recruit Quiller, an American agent, to continue to lead that field operation, namely to discover the base of operations of a new Nazi organization in West Berlin, they whose general members hide in plain sight in blending in with all walks of West German society. After the interview, he gives her a ride to her flat and stops in for a drink. Quiller drives off, managing to shake Hengel, then notices men in another car following him. Performed by Matt Monro, "Wednesday's Child" was also released as a single. All Rights Reserved. The burning question for Quiller is, how close is too close? It's a more realistic or credible portrayal of how a single character copes with trying to get information in a dangerous environment. In conclusion, having recently watched "Quiller's" almost exact contemporary "The Ipcress File", I have to say that I preferred the latter's more pointed narrative, down-home grittiness and star acting to the similar fare offered here. I was really surprised, because I don't usually like books written during the 50s or 60s. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. The Quiller Memorandum Ending Explained The characters and dialog are well-written and most roles are nicely acted. Required fields are marked *. What Adam Hall did extremely wellwas toget us readers inside the mind of an undercover operative. Sadly the Quiller novels have fallen out of favour with the apparentend of the Cold War. 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. Take a solid, healthy chicken's egg out of the hen house or the fridge Now throw out all the substance, and just keep the eggshell. His dry but quick Yiddish humor shines through on many occasions, providing diversions that masquerade his underlying desire to expose the antagonists' machinations. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. He spends as much time and energy attempting to lose the bouncer-like minders sent to cover him in the field as he does the neo-Nazi goon squads that eventually come calling. A crisply written story that captured my attention from beginning to end. There was also a TV series in 1975. Press J to jump to the feed. I enjoyed this novel just as much (if not more) as the previous books that I have read, and I will certainly be purchasing any further Quiller novels that I come across in my exploration of second-hand bookshops. My take was, he knows she's one of the bad guys, and same with the headmistress who he passes on the way out. The Quiller Memorandum strips the spy persona down to its primal instincts, ditching the fancy paraphernalia in favor of a rather satisfying display of wits and gumption. Hall alsopeppered the text with authentic espionage jargon and as you read you get to live the part of Quiller. Don't start thinking you missed something: it's the screenplay who did ! Special guests Sanders and Helpmann bring their special brand of haughty authority to their roles as members of British Intelligence. As for the rest of the movie, the plot, acting, and dialog are absolutely atrocious; even the footsteps are dubbed - click, click, click. Is Quiller going to wind up dead too? There are long stretches of what may have seemed to Pinter like very lively and amusing dialogue (the torture scenes between October and George Segal), but they drag on interminably, and make one want to go to sleep. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Theres a humanity to Quiller that is unique in this type of action spy thriller. At a key breakfast meeting, Pol uses two blueberry muffins to outline the particularly precarious cat-and-mouse game Quiller must play while in the gap between his own side and the fascist gang. During the car chase scene, the cars behind Quiller's Porsche appear and disappear, and are sometimes alongside his car, on the driver's (left) side. That way theres no-one to betray him to the other side. The film's screenplay (by noted playwright Pinter) reuses to spoon feed the audience, rather requiring that they rely on their instinct and attention span to pick up the threads of the plot. But soon he finds that she has been kidnapped and Oktober gives a couple of hours to him to give the location of the site; otherwise Inge and him will be killed. No one really cared that Gable did not even attempt an English accent the film was that good. On the other hand, the female lead is played by the charming Senta Berger, then aged 25, who does very well, and manages to be enigmatic, and gets just the right tone for the story. Alec Guinness plays spymaster Pol, Quillers minder. The film starred George Segal in the lead role, with Alec Guinness supporting andwas nominated for three BAFTAs. Alec Guinness never misses a trick in his few scenes as the cold, witty fish in charge of Berlin sector investigations. For Quiller, it's a question of staying alive when he's not in possession of all of the facts. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. George Segal's Quiller isn't intense, smart, calculating--qualities Quiller is known for--instead he comes across as a doofus by comparison, better suited to sports-writing or boxing, completely lacking in cunning. In the relationship between Quiller and Inge, Pinter casts just enough ambiguity over the proceedings to allow us plebian moviegoers our small participatory role in the production of meaning. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett, Norwegian crime show Witch Hunt comes to Walter Presents, The Wall: Quebec crime show comes to More4, Irish crime drama North Sea Connection comes to BBC Four, The complete guide to Mick Herrons Slough House series. Quiller then returns to his hotel, followed by the men who remain outside. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. She states that she "was lucky, they let me go" and claims she then called the phone number but it did not work. This repackaging includes some worthwhile special features like an isolated score track and commentary by film historians Eddy Friedfeld and Lee Pfeiffer of Cinema Retro magazine to go with the new format. The cast is full of familiar faces: Alec Guinness, who doesn't have much of a role, George Sanders, who has even less of one, Max von Sydow in what was to become a very familiar part for him, Robert Helpmann, Robert Flemyng, and the beautiful, enigmatic Senta Berger. Although the situations are often deadly serious, Segal seems to take them lightly; perhaps in the decade that spawned James Bond, he was confused and thought he was in a spy spoof. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. This books has excellent prose, unrealistic scenes, and a mediocre plot. Sort of a mixed effect clouds this novel. The West had sent a couple of agents to find out their headquarters, but both are killed. This one makes no exception. In fact, Segal as Quiller can often feel like a case of simple miscasting, although not as egregious a lapse in judgment as, say, Segals choice to play a Times Square smackhead in 1971s Born to Win. Quilleris a code name. Quiller's primary contact for this job is a mid level administrative agent named Pol. You are the hero of an extraordinary novel that shows how a spy works, how messages are coded and decoded, how contacts are made, how a man reacts under the influence of truth drugs, and that traces the story of a vastly complex, entertaining, convincing, and sinister plot. Two British agents are murdered by a mysterious Neo-Nazi organization in West Berlin. The casting of George Segal in the lead was a catastrophe, as he is so brash and annoying that one wants to scream. He published over 50 novels as Elleston Trevor alone. This is a nom de plume for author. Unfortunately, the film is weighed down, not only by a ponderous script, but also by a miscast lead; instead of a heavy weight actor in the mold of a William Holden, George Segal was cast as Quiller. And whats more, Quillers espionage tale is free of the silly gimmicks and gadgetry that define the escapist Bond franchise. That makes the story much more believable, and Adam Hall's writing style kept me engaged. Kindle Edition. Drama. The headmistress introduces him to a teacher who speaks English, Inge Lindt. Its there to tackle the dirty jobs, and Quiller is the Bureaus go-to guy. [6], The mainly orchestral atmospheric soundtrack composed by John Barry was released by Columbia in 1966. The Quiller Memorandum's strengths and charms are perhaps a bit too subtle for a spy thriller, but those who like their espionage movies served up with a sheen of intelligence rather than gloss or mockery will embrace Quiller.Still, there's no denying that that intelligence doesn't go as deep as it thinks it does, which can be frustrating. Hassler drives them to meet an old contact he says knows a lot more, who turns out to be Inge's headmistress. By day, the city is presented so beautifully, it's hard to imagine that such ugly things are going on amidst it. The novel was titled The Berlin Memorandum and at its centre was the protagonist and faceless spy, Quiller. But good enough to hold my interest till the end. Try as he might though, he can't quite carry the lead here, lacking as he does the magnetism of Connery or the cynicism of Caine. George Segal is a fine and always engaging actor, but the way his character is written here, he doesn't really come across as "a spy who gets along by his brains and not by his brawn"; he seems interested almost exclusively in the girl he meets, not in the case he's investigating, and (at least until the end) he seems to survive as a result of a combination of his good luck and the stupidity of the villains. Want to Read. I just dont really understand the ending to a degree. A spy thriller for chess players. The shooting on location in Berlin makes it that much more thrilling. When Quiller returns to his hotel, a porter bumps Quiller's leg with a suitcase on the steps. before he started doing "genial" and reminds us that his previous part was in the heavyweight "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf". Michael Anderson directs a classy slice of '60s spy-dom. A Twilight Time release. There are a number of unique elements in the Quiller series that make it stand out. But the writing was sloppy and there was a wholly superfluous section on decoding a cipher, which wasn't even believable. When Quiller decides to investigate the building, Inge says she will wait for him, while Hassler and the headmistress leave one of their cars for them. The film had its world premiere on 10 November 1966 at the Odeon Leicester Square in the West End of London. Read 134 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. 1966. With George Segal, Alec Guinness, Max von Sydow, Senta Berger. Quiller Memorandum, The - DVD Talk It was interesting to me that in 1965 (when I also happened to be living in Germany as a US Army dependent) the crux of the book was the fear of a Nazi resurgence -- and I'm not talking about skinheads, but Nazis deep within the German government and military. He notices the concierge is seated where he can see anyone leaving. In 1966, the book was made into a successful film starring George Segal, Max Von Sydow, Senta Berger, and Alec Guinness. An almost unrecognizable George Segal stars in "The Quiller Memorandum," set in Berlin and made 40 years ago. Once Quiller becomes extra-friendly with Ingewhich happens preternaturally quicklyits clear someone on the other side is getting nervous. Clumsy thriller. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. But Quiller is an equal to a James Bond, or a George Smiley. George Segal, plays the edgy American-abroad new CI5 recruit (looking unnervingly at times like a young George W Bush!) Nobel prizes notwithstanding I think Harold Pinter's screenplay for this movie is pretty lame, or maybe it's the director's fault. Max Van Sydow is better as the neo-Nazi leader, veiled by the veneer of respectability as he cracks his knuckles and swings a golf club all the time he's injecting Segal with massive doses of truth serum, while Senta Berger is pleasant, but slight, as the pretty young teacher who apparently leads our man initially to the "other side", but whose escape at the end from capture and certain death at the hands of the "baddies" might lead one to suspect her true proclivities. A handful of engaging spy thrillers followed before the author paused his novels to focus on journalism, although its also worth noting that he has freelanced. Quiller, a British agent who works without gun, cover or contacts, takes on a neo-Nazi underground organization and its war criminal leader. After they have sex, she unexpectedly reveals that a friend was formerly involved with neo-Nazis and might know the location of Phoenix's HQ. Be the first to contribute. What a difference to the ludicrous James Helm/Matt Bond (or is it the other way round?) Their aim is to bring back the Third Reich. The Quiller Memorandum: Directed by Michael Anderson. The book is built around a continual number of reveals. She claims she turned in the teacher from the article, and points out the dilapidated Phoenix mansion. The Berlin Memorandum, or The Quiller Memorandum as it is also known, is the first book in the twenty book Quiller series, written by Elleston Trevor under the pen name of Adam Hall. But then Quiller retraces his steps in a flashback. Quiller has a love affair with Inge and they seek out the location of Oktober. The Phoenix group descend and take Quiller, torturing him to find out what he knows. The nation remained the home of the best spies. As classic as it gets. The source novel "The Berlin Memorandum" is billed in the credits as being by Adam Hall. After two British agents are killed while investigating Phoenix, a neo-Nazi group, Quiller is tasked with finding the organizations leader. Quiller is eventually kidnapped and tortured by Oktober (Max von Sydow), the leader of Phoenix. But Quiller shares an important kinship with Spy in that it challenges popular 007 mythmaking: freshly envisioning the unglamorous underside of an intelligence profession that the James Bond franchise had been relentlessly trivializing since its inception.
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