I was watching TV and I caught the beginning of this film. I said "Why not?", considering the other choices were gossiping shows. And I don't regret that.
The movie revolves around an aspirant to journalist who looks forward to get big news to finally allow women to have their place in press. Note that it's Europe pre-1st WW. After some apparently unconnected murders, she finds the common pattern, and ends up meeting with the group in charge of it: The Assassination Bureau. He meets its chairman, Ivan Dragomilov, and offers 20 thousand pounds sterling to kill... Ivan Dragomilov. Instead of taking it as a joke, Ivan agrees to the proposition, and sets all his men to hunt himself. They will kill him, or he will kill them. Meanwhile, the aspirant to journalist is sent to follow Dragomilov by her boss, who turns out to be the vice-president of TAB, who wants the big chair for him.
Oliver Reed plays Dragomilov, a rather arrogant and self-confident guy, and he is convincing and hilarious. He should have had a chance as James BOnd (rather than Lazenby...). Diana RIgg plays the journalist (Miss WInter, to the point I recall). She's a tough female, reluctant to show her physical attributes. Some sort of Miss Emma Peel but without leather. The rest of the cast is as good.
I think the key of this film is that they don't take themselves too seriously. Of perhaps they did, but looking back now it seems silly. It's an interesting movie that must be remade, with someone like Jude Law or Colin Farrell playing Dragomilov, and some pretty Brit girl (Saffron Burrows?) as the journalist. Trust me, it's better than watching some of the dreadful recent films that have come out.
7/10
The movie revolves around an aspirant to journalist who looks forward to get big news to finally allow women to have their place in press. Note that it's Europe pre-1st WW. After some apparently unconnected murders, she finds the common pattern, and ends up meeting with the group in charge of it: The Assassination Bureau. He meets its chairman, Ivan Dragomilov, and offers 20 thousand pounds sterling to kill... Ivan Dragomilov. Instead of taking it as a joke, Ivan agrees to the proposition, and sets all his men to hunt himself. They will kill him, or he will kill them. Meanwhile, the aspirant to journalist is sent to follow Dragomilov by her boss, who turns out to be the vice-president of TAB, who wants the big chair for him.
Oliver Reed plays Dragomilov, a rather arrogant and self-confident guy, and he is convincing and hilarious. He should have had a chance as James BOnd (rather than Lazenby...). Diana RIgg plays the journalist (Miss WInter, to the point I recall). She's a tough female, reluctant to show her physical attributes. Some sort of Miss Emma Peel but without leather. The rest of the cast is as good.
I think the key of this film is that they don't take themselves too seriously. Of perhaps they did, but looking back now it seems silly. It's an interesting movie that must be remade, with someone like Jude Law or Colin Farrell playing Dragomilov, and some pretty Brit girl (Saffron Burrows?) as the journalist. Trust me, it's better than watching some of the dreadful recent films that have come out.
7/10