IMDb RATING
6.4/10
8.5K
YOUR RATING
International intrigue in London, involving an American university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.International intrigue in London, involving an American university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.International intrigue in London, involving an American university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total
Lewis Alexander
- Racegoer
- (uncredited)
Jack Armstrong
- Ascot Racegoer
- (uncredited)
Peter Avella
- Henchman
- (uncredited)
Roy Beck
- Reporter at Press Conference
- (uncredited)
Paul Beradi
- Ascot Racegoer
- (uncredited)
Michael Bilton
- Scientific Equipment Store Owner
- (uncredited)
Ernest Blyth
- Man at Gatwick Airport
- (uncredited)
George Curtis
- Man in Crowd
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGregory Peck found the stunts particularly difficult because of an old leg injury due to horseback riding. During the escape in the corn field, Peck had to keep telling Sophia Loren to slow down because it looked as if she was rescuing him and not the other way around.
- GoofsThe chase through the London Zoo takes place at night. However the insert shots of various animals were clearly shot in broad daylight.
- Quotes
David Pollock: Follow that car!
Taxi Driver: All my life I have waited for somebody to say that!
- Alternate versionsFor the UK theatrical release, the BBFC removed a few seconds of the drowning in the aquarium and the sight of a man being bloodily shot in the face in order to obtain an 'A' rating (the equivalent of today's 'PG'). All later releases have been uncut and rated '12.'
- ConnectionsFeatured in Biography: Sophia Loren: Actress Italian Style (1997)
- SoundtracksWe've Loved Before (Yasmin's Theme)
Written by Henry Mancini, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Conducted by Henry Mancini
Featured review
Sometimes it's difficult to say why one likes a film.
Undoubtedly, what is most memorable about this film is Sofia Loren (as with any of her films). She remains beautiful and charming regardless of the script's worth Admittedly, the script isn't worth much; Peck's character is given all these imitation-Bond one-liners that are like listening to a relative speak only in bad puns, as some of my relatives do. The plot is only fair, and some of the plot-twists absurd. The film is over-long and wallows in its own cleverness. Undoubtedly, some of the visuals in this film are just experiments in '60s psychedelic 'hip' - occasionally confusing, utterly annoying.
But the film gets carried by Peck, hammy but companionable, and Ms. Loren. It's definitely entertaining, and more than one scene may stick with you for some years - although I find it difficult to say just why. My suspicion is that the glittery surface of the film, which is very light, is used to make palatable realities that are very dark - like the drowning of the killer in the aquarium. Ultimately the film feeds on the ambivalence of the audience, because in part it generates this ambivalence intentionally.
Hardly a great film, in some ways a bad film, but worth a couple hours entertainment.
Undoubtedly, what is most memorable about this film is Sofia Loren (as with any of her films). She remains beautiful and charming regardless of the script's worth Admittedly, the script isn't worth much; Peck's character is given all these imitation-Bond one-liners that are like listening to a relative speak only in bad puns, as some of my relatives do. The plot is only fair, and some of the plot-twists absurd. The film is over-long and wallows in its own cleverness. Undoubtedly, some of the visuals in this film are just experiments in '60s psychedelic 'hip' - occasionally confusing, utterly annoying.
But the film gets carried by Peck, hammy but companionable, and Ms. Loren. It's definitely entertaining, and more than one scene may stick with you for some years - although I find it difficult to say just why. My suspicion is that the glittery surface of the film, which is very light, is used to make palatable realities that are very dark - like the drowning of the killer in the aquarium. Ultimately the film feeds on the ambivalence of the audience, because in part it generates this ambivalence intentionally.
Hardly a great film, in some ways a bad film, but worth a couple hours entertainment.
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $4,800,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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