Russian Roulette

George Segal plays an officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, currently on suspension, who accepts "piece of cake" assignment keeping a nonconformist immigrant from Latvia under his surveillance during the Soviet Premier's visit to Vancouver...that is, until his subject is kidnapped. Assassination thriller adapted from Tom Ardies' novel "Kosygin Is Coming" was just a quick-stop for Segal during a busy decade for him as a leading man. Plainly-filmed, mostly forgettable, but with little eccentric bits of humor. Good cast includes Cristina Raines, Denholm Elliott, Richard Romanus and Louise Fletcher, plus Segal is always fun to watch. The first of only two films directed by Lou Lombardo, revered movie editor on many '70s and '80s classics including most of Robert Altman's releases of the era. ** from ****