I probably haven't yet read enough to be fully aware of what the typical Quiller characteristics are, but never mindthe key thing is that it was a pacy, intense and thrilling read. Blu-ray, color, 105 min., 1966. Von Sydow (one of the few actors to have recovered from playing Jesus Christ and gone on to a varied and lengthy career) is excellent. Quiller enters the mansion and is confronted by Phoenix thugs. 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. NR. For example, when the neo-Nazi goons are sticking to Quiller like fly paper, wasn't he suspicious when they did not follow him into his hotel? Quiller, an agent working for British Intelligence, is sent to Berlin to meet with Pol, another operative. In the following chapter the events have moved on beyond the crisis, instantly creating a how? question in your mind. It's a bit strange to see such exquisitely Pinter-esque dialogue (the laconic, seemingly innocuous sentences; the profound silences; the syntax that isn't quite how real people actually talk) in a spy movie, but it really works. - BH. He steals a taxi, evades a pursuing vehicle and books himself into a squalid hotel. 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. 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). The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - IMDb But how could she put up with the love scenes with the atrocious Segal? She states that she "was lucky, they let me go" and claims she then called the phone number but it did not work. The premise isn't far-fetched, but the details are. The mind of the spy 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 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). Your email address will not be published. Senta Berger was gorgeous! I was really surprised, because I don't usually like books written during the 50s or 60s. The first thing to say about this film is that the screenplay is so terrible. Your name is Quiller. The novel was titled The Berlin Memorandum and at its centre was the protagonist and faceless spy, Quiller. It was from the quiller memorandum ending of the item, a failed nuclear weapons of Personalized Map Search. The Neo-Nazis want to know the location of British operations and similarly, the British want to know the location of the Neo-Nazis' headquarters. But admittedly its a tricky business second-guessing his dramatic instincts here. I liked that the main character was ornery and tired and smart and still made mistakes and tried to see all possible outcomes at once and fought more against jumping to conclusions and staying alert and clear-headed than he did directly against the villains themselves. I listened to the audio version narrated by Andrew B Wehrlen and found it an utterly engaging tale. This demonstration using familiar breakfast food items serves to stimulate the American spys brainwaves into serious operative mode. Max von Sydow as a senior post-War Nazi conspirator over-acts and is way out of control, Anderson being so hopeless and just a bystander who can have done no directing at all. Oh, there are some problems, and Michael Anderson's direction is. Quiller Memorandum, The (Blu-ray Review) - The Digital Bits Much quieter and understated than most spy flicks. The Quiller Memorandum - Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings - TV Guide The Quiller Memorandum - Wikipedia With its gritty, real-world depiction of contemporary international espionage, The Quiller Memorandum was one of the more notable anti-Bond films of the 1960s. Fairly interesting spy movie, but doesn't make much sense under close scrutiny. Harold Pinter's fairly literate screenplay features . talula's garden happy hour Whats more, not even Harold Pinter can inject Segals Quiller with anything like the cutting cynicism and dark humor that made Alec Leamus such a formidably wretched character. The Quiller Memorandum subtitles. See for instance DANDY IN ASPIC too, sooo complex and fascinating in the same time. Fresh off an Oscar nomination for the mental anguish he suffered at the hands of Richard Burton and Liz Taylor in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf (also 1966), George Segal seems, in hindsight, a dubious choice to play the offbeat Quiller. 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.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.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. We never find out histrue identity or his history. ): as a result, they were summarily bumped off with stereotypical German precision. The novels are esoteric thrillers, very cerebral and highly recommended. This one makes no exception. Clumsy thriller. 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 Quiller Memorandum - DVD Talk The name of the intelligence agency that Quiller ( George Segal) worked for was MI6. Omissions? He brings graceful authority and steely determination to his role. From the latest Scandinavian serial killer to Golden Age detective stories, we love our crime novels! People tend to like it because "it's not like the Bond movies"; well, it's not - it's like "The Ipcress File", except that "The Ipcress File" was a genuinely smart and atmospheric movie, while "The Quiller Memorandum" is a clumsy, dated spy thriller full of pseudo-hip dialogue and plot holes. International in its scope its contributors include scholars from Australia, Quiller . The Quiller Memorandum: Directed by Michael Anderson. They both go to the building, whereupon they are captured. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The Quiller Memorandum Cineaste Magazine Quiller is eventually kidnapped and tortured by Oktober (Max von Sydow), the leader of Phoenix. Just watched it. Michael Anderson directs with his usual leaden touch. 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. Meanwhile , Quiller befriends and fall in love for a teacher , Inge Lindt (Senta Berger) , and both of whom suffer constant dangers . In the mid-Sixties, the subgenre of the James Bond backlash film was becoming a crowded market. As classic as it gets. This is one of the worst thriller screenplays in cinema history. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). George Segal provides us with a lead character who is somewhat quirky in his demeanor, yet nonetheless effective in his role as an agent. I recall being duly impressed by the menacing atmospherics, if much of it went over my head. Despite an Oscar nomination for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," Segal's strength lies in light comedy, and both his demeanor and physical build made him an unlikely pick for an action role, even if the film is short on action. John Barry's The Quiller Memorandum (1966) Suite - YouTube 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. The plot revolves around former Nazis and the rise of a Neo-Nazi organisation known as Phonix. 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 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. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Turner Classic Movies As such, it was deemed to be in the mode of The Ipcress File (1965) and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965). First isthe protagonist himself. 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 . Hes that good try the book and youll find out. He contacts the teacher Inge Lindt (Senta Berger) expecting to get some clues to be followed and soon he is abducted the the leader Oktober (Max von Sydow) and his men. A much better example of a spy novel-to-film adaptation would be Our Man in Havana, also starring Alec Guinness. But for today's audiences, those films are a bit old fashioned and not always very easy to follow, too much complicated. The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall | Goodreads The Quiller Memorandum, based on a novel by Adam Hall (pen name for Elleston Trevor) and with a screenplay by Harold Pinter, deals with the insidious upsurge of neo-Nazism in Germany. 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. They are not just sympathisers though. Hall is not trying be a Le Carre, hes in a different area, one he really makes his own. The Quiller Memorandum - Rotten Tomatoes 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. Watched by Rui Alves de Sousa 04 Jun 2022. The friend proves to be Hassler, who is now much more friendly. 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. 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. The only redeeming features of The Quiller Memorandum are the scenes of Berlin with its old U-Bahn train and wonderful Mercedes automobiles, and the presence of two beautiful German women, Senta Berger and Edith Schneider; those two females epitomize Teutonic womanhood for me. 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. The Quiller Memorandum Audible Audiobook - Unabridged 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. . There are a number of unique elements in the Quiller series that make it stand out. Quiller Series by Adam Hall - Goodreads The Quiller Memorandum is a film adaptation of the 1965 spy novel The Berlin Memorandum, by Trevor Dudley-Smith, screenplay by Harold Pinter, directed by Michael Anderson, featuring George Segal, Max von Sydow, Senta Berger and Alec Guinness.The film was shot on location in West Berlin and in Pinewood Studios, England.The film was nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards, while Pinter was nominated for an . But Quiller gets closer to the action when he visits a supposedly progressive West Berlin middle school on a tip about an alleged Nazi war criminal who once taught there. He is the true faceless spy. The photo shows a man in Luftwaffe (airforce) uniform. 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. He accepts the assignment and almost immediately finds that he is being followed. One of my all time favorites and the film too. Analismos este filme no 10. episdio de TRS J COMPANHIA. Set largely on location in West Berlin, it has George Segal brought back from vacation to replace a British agent who has come to a sticky end at the hands of a new infiltrating group of Nazis. While the Harry Palmer films from 1965 to 1967 (Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, and Billion Dollar Brain) saw cockney Everyman Michael Caine nail the part of Palmer, who was the slum-dwelling, bespectacled antithesis to Sean Connerys martini-sipping sybarite. THE SITE FOR DIE HARD CRIME & THRILLER FANS. But good enough to hold my interest till the end. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Watchlist. This is the first in the series, and it seems to have a reputation for being a little different from what would become the typical Quiller novel. Their aim is to bring back the Third Reich. Languid, some might say ponderous mid-60's British-made cold-war drama (it could scarcely be called a thriller, more "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" than, say "Thunderball") that for all its longueurs, does have some redeeming features. Keating. As for the rest of the movie, the plot, acting, and dialog are absolutely atrocious; even the footsteps are dubbed - click, click, click. 1966's The Quiller Memorandum is a low-key gem, a pared-down, existential spy caper that keeps the exoticism to a minimum. It certainly held my interest, partly because it was set in Berlin and even mentioned the street I lived on several times. Quiller's assignment: to discover the location of the neo-Nazi . Commenting on Quiller in 1966, The New York Timessomewhat unfairlywrote off Segals performance as an unmitigated bust: If youve got any spying to do in Berlin, dont send George Segal to do the job. The reviewer then refers to Quiller as a pudding-headed fellow (a descriptive phrase that sounds more 1866 than 1966). Is Quiller going to wind up dead too? 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Always under-appreciated by U.S. audiences, it's a relief to know that she's had a major impact on the German film community in later years. The thugs believe him dead when they see the burning wreckage. Audiobook. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. The whole thing, including these two actors, is as hollow as a shell. ago Just watched it. He was the author of. 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. Very eerie film score, I believe John Barry did it but, I'm not sure. Apparently, it was made into a classic movie and there is even a website compiled by Trevor devotees. The British Secret Service sends agent Quiller to investigate. 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. A satisfyingly cynical spy thriller with George Segal, Alec Guinness and Max Von Sydow; and a script by Harold Pinter, Decent and interesting spy thriller with great cast and impressive musical score by John Barry in his usual style. The Quiller Memorandum certainly couldnt compete on an aesthetic level with a film like Spy Who Came in from the Cold: No actor, certainly not George Segal, is going to one-up Richard Burton in the anti-Bond department. With a screenplay by Harold Pinter and careful direction by Michael Anderson, the movie is more a violent-edged tale of probable, cynical betrayal by everyone we meet, with the main character, Quiller (George Segal), squeezed by those he works for, those he works against and even by the delectable German teacher, Inge Lendt (Senta Berger) he meets. And whats more, Quillers espionage tale is free of the silly gimmicks and gadgetry that define the escapist Bond franchise. The Quiller Memorandum is a 1966 British neo noir eurospy film filmed in Deluxe Color and Panavision, adapted from the 1965 spy novel The Berlin Memorandum, by Elleston Trevor under the name "Adam Hall", screenplay by Harold Pinter, directed by Michael Anderson, featuring George Segal, Alec Guinness, Max von Sydow and Senta Berger. Pretending to be a reporter, Quiller visits the school featured in the article. What a difference to the ludicrous James Helm/Matt Bond (or is it the other way round?) And the legendary John Barrycomposer of the original Bond themeprovides appropriately haunting incidental music here. I can see where some might find it more exhausting than anything else, though--he does get tired :). 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. No doubt Quiller initially seems like a slow-witted stumblebum, but his competence as an agent begins to reveal itself in due course: for instance, we find out he speaks fluent German; in a late scene, he successfully uses a car bomb to fake his own death and fool his adversaries; and along the way he exhibits surprisingly competent hand-to-hand combat skills in beating up a few Nazi bullyboys. The Quiller Memorandum, based on a novel by Adam Hall (pen name for Elleston Trevor) and with a screenplay by Harold Pinter, deals with the insidious upsurge of neo-Nazism in Germany. Quiller confronts a man who seems to be following him, revealing that he (Quiller) speaks German fluently. If you've only seen the somewhat tepid 1966 film starring George Segal which is based on this classic post-WWII espionage novel, don't let it stop you from reading the original. What is the French language plot outline for The Quiller Memorandum (1966)? Quiller befriends a teacher, Inge Lindt, whose predecessor at the school had been arrested for being a Neo-Nazi. 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). For Quiller, it's a question of staying alive when he's not in possession of all of the facts. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Sadly the Quiller novels have fallen out of favour with the apparentend of the Cold War. Quiller, a British agent who works without gun, cover or contacts, takes on a neo-Nazi underground organization and its war criminal leader. And of course, no spy-spoof conversation would be complete without mentioning 1967s David Niven-led piss-take on the Bond films, Casino Royale. The film magnificently utilizes West German locations to bring the story to life. She claims she turned in the teacher from the article, and points out the dilapidated Phoenix mansion. 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. Their aim is to bring back the Third Reich. The Quiller Memorandum. 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. It is very rare that I find anyone else who is even aware of the Quiller books and yet they are as your reviewer mentions, absolutely first class. The screenwriter, Harold Pinter, no less, received an Edgar nomination. 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. This time he's a spy trying to get the location of a neo-Nazi organization. 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. It's hard to believe this book won the Edgar for Best Novel, against books by Mary Stewart, Len Deighton, Ross MacDonald, Dorothy Salisbury Davis, and H.R.F. The Quiller Memorandum was based on a novel by Elleston Trevor (under the name Adam Hall). What Adam Hall did extremely wellwas toget us readers inside the mind of an undercover operative. He also works alone and without contacts. Also contains one of the final appearences of George Sanders in a brief role, a classic in his own right! Pol tells Quiller the fascist underground is far more organized and powerful in Germany than people believe. The West had sent a couple of agents to find out their headquarters, but both are killed. Required fields are marked *. This exciting movie belongs to spy sub-genre being developed during the cold war , it turns out to be a stirring thriller plenty of mystery , tension , high level of suspense , and a little bit of violence . The Quiller Memorandum - Rate Your Music But his accent was all wrongtaking the viewer out of the moment. 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. 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. Set in 1950s Finland, during the Cold War, the books tell the story of a young police woman and budding detective who cuts against the grain when, John Fullertons powerful 1996 debut The Monkey House was set in war-torn Sarajevo and was right in the moment. Thank God Segal is in it. Press J to jump to the feed. The Quiller Memorandum is based on Adam Hall's thriller novel about neo-Nazism in contemporary Germany. When they find, Quiller gives the phone number of his base to Inge and investigates the place. When Quiller refuses to talk, Oktober orders his execution. The film illustrates the never-ending game of spying and the futility that results as each mission is only accomplished in its own realm, but the big picture goes on and on with little or no resolution. Visually, the film was rather stunning, but the magical soft focus that appears every time Inga is in the frame is silly. The Quiller Memorandum | film by Anderson [1966] | Britannica Newer. 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. Sadly, Von Sydows formidable acting chops are never seriously challenged here, and his lines are limited to fairly standard B-movie Euro-villain speak. Performed by Matt Monro, "Wednesday's Child" was also released as a single. I feel this film much more typified real counter espionage in the 60's as opposed to the early Bond flicks (which I love, by the way).