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Paul Newman, Dominique Sanda, James Mason, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen ... see more see more... , Michael Hordern , Keith Bell , John Bindon , Shane Briant , Eddie Byrne , Roland Culver , Leo Genn , Percy Herbert , Robert Lang , Joe Lynch , Niall MacGinnis , Hugh Manning , Eric Mason , Donal McCann , Wolfe Morris , Dinny Powell , Noel Purcell , Jenny Runacre , Peter Vaughan , Donald Webster , Marc Boyle , Nigel Patrick , Nosher Powell , Ronald Clarke , Gerry Alexander , Douglas Robinson , Joe Cahill , Terry Plummer , Jack Cooper , Tom Irwin

John Huston directed this cold war spy thriller (from a script by Walter Hill) concerning a British agent trying infiltrate the organization of a nefarious communist spy. Paul Newman is Joseph Reardon... read more read more..., a British secret agent commissioned by Mackintosh (Harry Andrews) to impersonate a jewel thief. When the police are tipped off about his diamond robbery, Reardon is arrested and shipped off to a high-security prison. At the prison, he meets a convicted Russian spy and the two are involved in a prison break, arranged by a mysterious group called the Scarperers. After the successful breakout, Reardon finds himself drugged and sent to Ireland. It turns out that the escapade was organized by Mackintosh in the hopes Reardon could infiltrate the Scarperers and gather information on the group's leader, Sir George Wheeler (James Mason), and prove him to be a Russian spy. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

41% liked it

863 ratings

Critics

56% liked it

9 critics

PG, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: John Huston

Release Date: July 25, 1973

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DVD Release Date: November 14, 2006

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Stats: 61 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (61)

  • hunterjt13
    May 6, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A "British" intelligence agent sniffs out corruption undercover.
    John Huston's thriller is slow moving and almost blithe in its action, acting, and direction. it is almost as though all involved - audience and filmmakers - know what is going to happen, so there is little commitm... read moreent in the execution. What is more, Paul Newman's "British" accent is so inconsistent that it sounds dubbed in some parts and like Paul Newman in others. There's no real plot-based need for him to be British, but like I said, it doesn't seem like much thought was put in to the story and acting.
    Overall, this isn't a terrible film, but it certainly doesn't radically engage.
  • ythelastman89
    June 16, 2010
    ythelastman89
    It's sort've odd to hear Paul Newman with an Australian accent and not his usual charismatic self, but this is still a very interesting career move for him and it just shows his wide range. I really like the prison/escape scenes and just the overall feel. Even though it doesn't b... read moreecome more than a semi-James Bond, it's fun enough to stand on its own.
  • jjnxn
    July 15, 2009
    jjnxn
    Considering the talent involved a real disappointment.
  • burgerstar
    June 14, 2011
    burgerstar
    Paul Newman's attempt to do a James Bond movie?
  • billfenner1967
    April 3, 2009
    billfenner1967
    I don't understand why this film is disliked by so many. I found it quite suspenseful and interesting. It certainly falls away somewhat in the last act, but overall the unglamorous and gritty nature of the film is fascinating.

    There's a particularly good scene that, I suppose, t... read morehe Coen brothers must have seen and liked because they remade it for "No Country For Old Men". I'm referring to a scene in which Newman is being chased by a vicious dog over land. He eventually crosses a creek and then grabs a pistol by its barrel and clubs the dog and drowns it to death. The similar scene in the recent Coens' film is equally as tense.

    Definitely recommend this movie for fans of spy realism -- Le Carre-- as opposed to spy fantasy -- Fleming.
  • thrusz
    January 12, 2008
    thrusz
    Dammit, Paul! I have enough actors that I like. Okay, you know what this movie is? I'm ruining the premise for you. It's The Departed, but light and fun and, what-the-hell?, throw a little espionage in there. That's right. It's that way earlier than either Inferna... read morel Affairs or The Departed. Also, I can now recognize James Mason when I see him and thank you, Eddie Izzard, for having such a good impression of him (as God).

    The one fault of this movie is that it is really obvious halfway through. (Or I'm just crazy smart.) But the reverse of that statement is that it is really puzzling for the first half. I didn't know what the hell was going on for a little bit. I thought that the movie was fun and kind of reminded me of the newer Ocean's Eleven only with spies. John Huston does a good job keeping the action really contained. I'd put this kind of spy movie closer to Jason Bourne than James Bond, but set it in the seventies and forget that the other Bourne Identity exists. (That's right, kids...if you didn't know, The Bourne Identity is a remake!)

    Now, because I'm a polite kid who cares about whether or not other people could sleep, I play the movie rather quietly. Rarely do I run into problems. Trust me, you don't need the movie blaring all the time. It's just fun when you can. But Dominique Sanda's REALLY heavy accent made her dialogue lost and I had to be slightly more rude than normal just to get her part out of the story. I'm not saying don't cast her, but I kind of am. I had the same problems with the Pirates of the Carribean sequels, so I guess I can b*tch about it in a movie that I actually enjoyed.

    Yes, there are plotholes that you can drive a truck through, but those "oh sh*t" moments cover up for those. Well, with the exception of one. It seemed like the writers drove themselves into a corner and had just a really graitifying ending, but an ending that lacked substance. But I will say this. If I ever go to prison...make sure it's in Britain. Everyone seemed really nice and polite in that prison. Not at all like Oz or Prison Break.
  • saroz162
    May 4, 2007
    saroz162
    This should be a great movie. It's not. All the elements are there - a great lead actor, a great villain, a great director. But the storyline is convoluted, slow, and most of all, totally boring. It's a thriller without any thrills at all.
  • lmr1213
    February 11, 2007
    lmr1213
    This movie has to be the stupidest movie I have EVER seen in my entire life. It had absolutely no plot. and it was just dumb

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 18, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

There's a whole lot of nothing going on here. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

The screenplay by Walter Hill... has very little to do with character and motivation and everything to do with the incidents and the mechanics of the spy trade. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is irritating in its refusal to make things clear; if spy movies are going to work like clockwork, they have to be put together with some care. Full Review

June 18, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

This is by no means a bad film, but it should have been better considering the names involved. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
June 18, 2008
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

For the most part the film is standard fare, with plot discrepancies countered by the film's atmosphere and star appeal.

Steve Crum
February 21, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Actioner starring Paul Newman is worth seeing, but marginally.

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Reasonably entertaining old-fashioned thriller. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

This film never risks being realistic or even comprehensible, but it will pass a Sunday afternoon quite pleasantly. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 29, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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