When a spy film is made in the James Bond vein then close analysis is superfluous, but when the movie has a pretense of seriousness then it'd better make sense. I read it in two evenings. His two predecessors were killed off in their attempts, but he nevertheless proceeds with headstrong (perhaps even bullheaded) confidence without the aid of cover or even a firearm! But admittedly its a tricky business second-guessing his dramatic instincts here. Quiller reaches Pol's secret office in Berlin, one of the top floors in the newly built Europa-Center, the tallest building in the city, and gives them the location of the building where he met Oktober. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Pol tells Quiller that Kenneth Lindsay Jones, a fellow agent and friend of Quiller's, was killed two days earlier by a neo-Nazi cell operating out of Berlin. NR. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. After the interview, he gives her a ride to her flat and stops in for a drink. He recruits Berger to help him infiltrate the Neo-Nazis and discover their base of operations, but, once again, is thwarted. Guinness appears as Segal's superior and offers a great deal of presence and class. In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate. He first meets with Pol, who explains that each side is trying to discover and annihilate the other's base. Quiller slips out though a side door to the small garage yard where his car is kept. In terms of style The Quiller books aretaut and written with narrative pace at the forefront. The Quiller Memorandum came near the peak of the craze for spy movies in the Sixties, but its dry, oddly sardonic tone sets it apart from both the James Bond-type sex-and-gadget thrillers and the more somber, "adult" spy dramas such as Martin Ritt's The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965). Movie Info After two British Secret Intelligence Service agents are murdered at the hands of a cryptic neo-Nazi group known as Phoenix, the suave agent Quiller (George Segal) is sent to Berlin to. Pol tells Quiller the fascist underground is far more organized and powerful in Germany than people believe. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) is one such film, and though it's one of the more obscure ones, it is also one of the better ones. One of my all time favorites and the film too. In the following chapter the events have moved on beyond the crisis, instantly creating a how? question in your mind. For my money, the top three cold war spy novelists were Le Carre, Deighton, and Adam Hall. As other reviewers have suggested, this Cold War Neo-Nazi intrigue is more concerned with subtle, low-key plot evolution than the James Bond in-your-face-gadgetry genre that was prevalent during the 60's-70's. This isn't your average James Bond knockoff spy thriller; the fact that the screenplay is by playwright Harold Pinter is the first clue. youtu.be/rQ4PA3H6pAw. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions. The brawny headmistress points Quiller in the direction of Inge (Senta Berger), who happens to be the only English-speaking teacher at the school. He is shielded behind the building when the bomb explodes. When Quiller refuses to talk, Oktober orders his execution. Really sad. He begins openly asking question about Neo-Nazis and is soon kidnapped by a man known only as "Oktober". I thought the ending was Quller getting one last meeting with the nice babe and sending a warning to any remaining Nazis that they are being watched. Quiller continues his subtle accusations, and Inge continues her denial of ever meeting Jones. The thugs believe him dead when they see the burning wreckage. Oktober reveals they are moving base the next day and that they have captured Inge. If Quiller isnt the most dramatically pleasing of the anti-Bond subgenre, its certainly not for lack of ambition, originality, or undistinguished crew or cast members. From that point of view, the film should be seen by social, architectural, and urban landscape historians. I also expected just a little more from the interrogation scenes from the man who wrote "The Birthday Party". Weary, Quiller only accepts the assignment on the assumption that he can fulfill a self-made promise revenge for a friend. What a difference to the ludicrous James Helm/Matt Bond (or is it the other way round?) Alec Guinness gets to play a Smiley prototype but brings too much Noel Coward to the table. Pol dispatches a team to Phoenix's HQ, which successfully captures all of Phoenix's members. [3], In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "Clearly, 'The Quiller Memorandum' is claptrap done up in a style and with a musical score by John Barry that might lead you to think it is Art. Have read a half dozen or so other "Quiller" books, so when I saw that Hoopla had this first story, I figured I should give it a listen to see how Quiller got started. This spy novel about neo-Nazis 1960's Berlin seemed dated and a little stilted to me. The Quiller Memorandum : definition of The Quiller Memorandum and When Quiller passes out at a traffic stop, the other car pulls alongside and abducts him. Composer Barry provides an atmospheric score (though one that is somewhat of a departure from the notes and instruments used in his more famous pieces), but silence is put to good use as well. I can see where some might find it more exhausting than anything else, though--he does get tired :). The third to try is Quiller, an unassuming man, who knows he's being put into a deadly game. After two British agents are assassinated in Berlin by a group of Neo-Nazis, the British Secret Service assign Quiller to locate and identify the culprits. Ian Nathan of Empire described the film as "daft, dated and outright confusing most of the time, but undeniably fun" and rated it with 3/5 stars. As Quiller revolves around a plot that's more monstrously twisted than he imagines it to be . All of that, and today the novels are largely forgotten. Much quieter and understated than most spy flicks. Quiller's assignment: to discover the location of the neo-Nazi . 1 hr 45 mins. Director Michael Anderson Writers Trevor Dudley Smith (based on the novel by) Harold Pinter (screenplay) Stars George Segal Alec Guinness Max von Sydow See production, box office & company info This is one of the worst thriller screenplays in cinema history. They are all members of Phoenix, led by the German aristocrat code-named Oktober. Also the increasing descent into the minutiae of spycraft plays into the reveal, plot-wise as well as psychologically. He is shot dead by an unseen gunman. And although Harold Pinters screenwriting for Quiller doesnt strike one as being classically Pinteresque, occasionally his distinct style reveals itself in pockets of suggestive menace where silence is often just as important as whats spoken. It's a more realistic or credible portrayal of how a single character copes with trying to get information in a dangerous environment. Lindt (Berger) is a school teacher who meets Quiller to translate for him. They don't know how to play it, it's neither enjoyable make-believe like the James Bond movies, nor is it played for real like "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold." The source novel "The Berlin Memorandum" is billed in the credits as being by Adam Hall. This time he's a spy trying to get the location of a neo-Nazi organization. This is an espionage series that started in the '60's and ran through the '90's. The first thing to say about this film is that the screenplay is so terrible. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Plot Summary - IMDb 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). It relies on a straight narrative storyline, simple but holding, literate dialog and well-drawn characters. Quiller Memorandum, The - DVD Talk It was nominated for three BAFTA Awards,[2] while Pinter was nominated for an Edgar Award for the script. The Berlin Memorandum, renamed The Quiller Memorandum, was published in 1965 by Elleston Trevor, who used the pseudonym Adam Hall. We never find out histrue identity or his history. Director Michael Anderson Writers Trevor Dudley Smith (based on the novel by) Harold Pinter (screenplay) Stars George Segal Alec Guinness Max von Sydow See production, box office & company info Quiller Memorandum, The (Blu-ray Review) - The Digital Bits Slow-moving Cold War era thriller in the mode of "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold," "The Quiller Memorandum" lacks thrills and fails to match the quality of that Richard Burton classic. 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. The movie made productive use of the West German locations. Quiller is eventually kidnapped and tortured by Oktober (Max von Sydow), the leader of Phoenix. In the process, he discovers a complex and malevolent plot, more dangerous to the world than any crime committed during the war. Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. Quiller investigates, but hes being followed and has been since the moment he entered Berlin. Michael Anderson directs with his usual leaden touch. Senta Berger was gorgeous! Two British agents are murdered by a mysterious Neo-Nazi organization in West Berlin. This was evidently the first of a very long series featuring the spy Quiller. The Quiller Memorandum. Very eerie film score, I believe John Barry did it but, I'm not sure. Scriptwriter Harold Pinter, already with two of the best adapted screenplays of the 1960s British New Wave under his belt (The Servant and The Pumpkin Eater), adapted his screenplay for Quiller from Adam Halls 1965 novel, The Berlin Memorandum. The film is ludicrous. On its publication in 1966, THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM received the Edgar Award as best mystery of the year. Probably the most famous example of a solid American type playing an Englishman is Clark Gable from Mutiny On The Bounty. Neo-Nazi plot When their backs against the wall, its him they turn to. For Quiller, it's a question of staying alive when he's not in possession of all of the facts. Quiller would have also competed with the deluge of popular spy spoofs and their misfit mock-heroes: namely, Dean Martins drinking-and-driving playboy agent Matt Helm (The Silencers, Wrecking Crew) and James Coburns parody of Bondian suavity, Derek Flint, in the trippy spy fantasias Our Man Flint (1966) and In Like Flint (1967). He also works alone and without contacts. Press J to jump to the feed. It is credible. The Phoenix group descend and take Quiller, torturing him to find out what he knows. Michael Anderson directs a classy slice of '60s spy-dom. The former was a bracingly pessimistic Cold War alternative to freewheeling Bondian optimism that featured burnout boozer actor Richard Burton in an all-too-convincing performance as burnout boozer spy Alec Leamus. The Quiller Memorandum | Mountain Xpress 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. I am not saying he was bad in the filmor at least that bad. Quiller: At the end of our conversation, he ordered them to kill me. THE SITE FOR DIE HARD CRIME & THRILLER FANS. The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall | Goodreads It was written by Harold Pinter, but despite his talent for writing plays, he certainly had no cinematic sense whatever. John Barry's The Quiller Memorandum (1966) Suite - YouTube This one makes no exception. The Quiller Memorandum: Directed by Michael Anderson. BFI Screenonline: Quiller Memorandum, The (1966) Synopsis Thought I'd try again and found this one a bit dated and dry - I will persevere with the series, Adam Hall (one of Elleston Trevor' many pseudonyms) wrote many classic spy stories, and this one is considered one of his best. 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. 42 editions. Book 4 stars, narration by Simon Prebble 4 stars. The book is built around a continual number of reveals. En route he has some edgy adventures. See for instance DANDY IN ASPIC too, sooo complex and fascinating in the same time. They have lots of information about the film, but inexplicably take ten minutes to explain how the Cold War conflict between Communism and Capitalism relates to . Hall alsopeppered the text with authentic espionage jargon and as you read you get to live the part of Quiller. 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. Hall's truncated writing style contributes to this effect. He walks down the same street where Jones was shot, but finds he is followed by Oktober's men. ago Just watched it. Quiller leaves the Konigshof Hotel on West Berlin's Kurfurstendamm and confronts a man who has been following him, learning that it is his minder, Hengel. 2 decades after the collapse of Nazi Germany, several old guard are planning to (slowly) rebuild. The plot holes are many. The novels are esoteric thrillers, very cerebral and highly recommended. Studios: The Rank Organisation and Ivan Foxwell Productions, https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Quiller-Memorandum, BFI Screenonline - The Quiller Memorandum (1966), Britmovie.co.uk - "The Quiller Memorandum", The Quiller Memorandum - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). What is the French language plot outline for The Quiller Memorandum (1966)? Slow-moving Cold War era thriller in the mode of "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold," "The Quiller Memorandum" lacks thrills and fails to match the quality of that Richard Burton classic. Hall (also known as Elleston Trevor and several other pseudonyms) seemed really to hate the Germans, or at least his character did. But his accent was all wrongtaking the viewer out of the moment. Want to Read. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) directed by Michael Anderson Reviews This well-drawn tale of espionage is set in West B. The British Secret Service sends agent Quiller to investigate. That makes the story much more believable, and Adam Hall's writing style kept me engaged. 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The whole thing, including these two actors, is as hollow as a shell. Where to Watch. No one really cared that Gable did not even attempt an English accent the film was that good. This movie belongs to the long list of the spy features of the sixties, and not even James Bond like movies, rather John Le Carr oriented ones, in the line of IPCRESS or ODESSA FILE, very interesting films for movie buffs in search of a kind of nostalgia and also for those who try to understand this period. But Quiller is an equal to a James Bond, or a George Smiley. Quiller Series by Adam Hall - Goodreads 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. It's not often that one wishes so much for a main character to get killed, especially by NAZI's. The only really interesting thing is the way we're left spoiler: click to read in the end. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - IMDb "[4], The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 67% of critics have given the film a positive rating, based on 12 reviews, with an average score of 7.4/10. And, the final scene (with her and Segal) is done extremely well (won't spoil it for those who still wish to see itit fully sums up the film, the tension filled times and cold war-era Germany). The setting is as classic as the comeBerlin during the 1960s. This well-drawn tale of espionage is set in West Berlin, 15 years after the end of WW II. [6], The mainly orchestral atmospheric soundtrack composed by John Barry was released by Columbia in 1966. 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. They are not just sympathisers though. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Trivia - IMDb Quiller admits to Inge that he is an "investigator" on the trail of neo-Nazis. The Quiller Memorandum - Rotten Tomatoes As usual for films which are difficult to pin down . Segals laconic, stoop-shouldered Quiller is a Yank agent on loan to the British government to replace the latest cashiered Anglo operative in West Berlin. Twist piles upon twist , as a British agent becomes involved in a fiendishly complicated operation to get a dangerous ringleader and his menacing hoodlums . Phoenix boss Oktober (Max von Sydow) with George Segal, seated. Performed by Matt Monro, "Wednesday's Child" was also released as a single. He finds that a bomb has been strapped underneath and sets it on the bonnet of the car so it will slowly slide and fall off due to vibration from the running engine. Alec Guinness never misses a trick in his few scenes as the cold, witty fish in charge of Berlin sector investigations. In 1966, the book was made into a successful film starring George Segal, Max Von Sydow, Senta Berger, and Alec Guinness. They say 'what a pity' with droll indifference as they eat their roast pheasant and take note of which operatives have been killed this week. 2023's Most Anticipated Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-offs, Dirk Bauer . I've not put together a suite before so hopefully it works.Barry's short (35mins) if atmospheric score for the Cold War thriller The Quiller Memorandum, 1966. The Wall Street Journal said it was one of the best espionage/spy series of all time. Watchable and intriguing as it occasionally is, enigmatic is perhaps the most apposite adjective you could use to describe the "action" within. After all, his characters social unease and affectless personality are presumably components of the movies contra-Bond commitment. The setting is Cold War-divided Berlin where Quiller tackles a threat from a group of neo-Nazis who call themselves Phoenix. It looks like we don't have any synopsis for this title yet. The Chief of the Secret Service Pol (Alec Guinness) summons the efficient agent Quiller (George Segal) to investigate the location of organization's headquarter. Analismos este filme no 10. episdio de TRS J COMPANHIA. There was also a TV series in 1975. CIS: The Quiller Memorandum revisited | Crime Fiction Lover The Quiller Memorandum - Variety In a clever subversion of genre expectations, the plot and storyline ignore contemporary East versus West Cold War themes altogether (East Berlin is, in fact, never mentioned in the film). The book itself sets a standard for the psychological spy thriller as an agent (code-named Quiller) plays a suspense-filled cat-and-mouse game with the head of a neo-Nazi group in post-war Berlin. Variety wrote that "it relies on a straight narrative storyline, simple but holding, literate dialog and well-drawn characters". The headmistress introduces him to a teacher who speaks English, Inge Lindt. 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. Mind you, in 1966-67 the Wall was there, East German border guards and a definite (cold war) cloud hanging over the city. A Twilight Time release. In typically British mordant fashion, George Sanders and a fellow staffer in Britain are lunching in London on pheasant, more concerned with the quality of their repast than with the loss of their man in the field! Having just read the novel, it's impossible to watch this without its influence and I found the screen version incredibly disappointing. With George Segal, Alec Guinness, Max von Sydow, Senta Berger. I had to resist the temptation to fast forward on several occasions. The screenwriter, Harold Pinter, no less, received an Edgar nomination. Just watched it. He published over 50 novels as Elleston Trevor alone. And the legendary John Barrycomposer of the original Bond themeprovides appropriately haunting incidental music here. America's leading magazine on the art and politics of the cinema. Quiller, a British agent who works without gun, cover or contacts, takes on a neo-Nazi underground organization and its war criminal leader. 1966's The Quiller Memorandum is a low-key gem, a pared-down existential spy caper that keeps the exoticism to a minimum. 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 drug-induced questioning fails to produce results, Segal is booted to the river, but he isn't quite ready to give in yet. Apparently, it was made into a classic movie and there is even a website compiled by Trevor devotees. I enjoyed the book. closing theme, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 11:13.