One cannot help but wonder why the great Robert Mitchum got lost in this Frenchie drivel.He plays like a zombie,like a sleepwalker ,probably the best thing to do when you are given such a lousy part to work with.
And (fortunately!)the great actor does not play the lead;the rest of the cast ,left to their own devices,surpasses him in mediocrity :the male principal (Michael Brandon)overplays and is constantly unbearable and his female co-star is as expressive as a Barbie doll ,even in jeopardy;the others (Marie Laforet,Francis Perrin,Mario Adorf ) ,are not sure if it's a spy thriller or a spoof and their performances suffer accordingly.
George Lautner was a "comedies" specialist " ,but from time to time,he came up with more ambitious works ("Le Septieme Juré " ,"La Route De Salina -in which he directed two American actresses ,Rita Hayworth and Mimsy Farmer, quite well- and "la Maison Assassinée"); he apparently registered the same desire here :if it were so ,then it signally failed in its purpose !
And (fortunately!)the great actor does not play the lead;the rest of the cast ,left to their own devices,surpasses him in mediocrity :the male principal (Michael Brandon)overplays and is constantly unbearable and his female co-star is as expressive as a Barbie doll ,even in jeopardy;the others (Marie Laforet,Francis Perrin,Mario Adorf ) ,are not sure if it's a spy thriller or a spoof and their performances suffer accordingly.
George Lautner was a "comedies" specialist " ,but from time to time,he came up with more ambitious works ("Le Septieme Juré " ,"La Route De Salina -in which he directed two American actresses ,Rita Hayworth and Mimsy Farmer, quite well- and "la Maison Assassinée"); he apparently registered the same desire here :if it were so ,then it signally failed in its purpose !
