For my money, the top three cold war spy novelists were Le Carre, Deighton, and Adam Hall. After all, his characters social unease and affectless personality are presumably components of the movies contra-Bond commitment. Senta Berger was gorgeous! They wereso popularthat in 1966 a film was made the title waschanged to The Quiller Memorandum and from then on all future copies of the book were published under this title, rather than the original. Try as he might though, he can't quite carry the lead here, lacking as he does the magnetism of Connery or the cynicism of Caine. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Turner Classic Movies I can see where some might find it more exhausting than anything else, though--he does get tired :). When Quiller passes out at a traffic stop, the other car pulls alongside and abducts him. Before long, his purposefully clumsy nosing around leads to his capture and interrogation by a very elegantly menacing von Sydow, who wants to know where Segal's own headquarters is! 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. International in its scope its contributors include scholars from Australia, Quiller . This one makes no exception. The book is built around a continual number of reveals. I enjoyed the book. I had to resist the temptation to fast forward on several occasions. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He notices the concierge is seated where he can see anyone leaving. I thought the ending was Quller getting one last meeting with the nice babe and sending a warning to any remaining Nazis that they are being watched. Oktober demands Quiller reveal the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) base by dawn or Inge will be killed. This demonstration using familiar breakfast food items serves to stimulate the American spys brainwaves into serious operative mode. He quickly becomes involved with numerous people of suspicious motives and backgrounds, including Inge (Senta Berger), a teacher at a school where a former Nazi war criminal committed suicide. Director Michael Anderson Writers Trevor Dudley Smith (based on the novel by) Harold Pinter (screenplay) Stars George Segal Alec Guinness Max von Sydow See production, box office & company info Guinness appears as Segal's superior and offers a great deal of presence and class. Once Quiller becomes extra-friendly with Ingewhich happens preternaturally quicklyits clear someone on the other side is getting nervous. The nation remained the home of the best spies. before he started doing "genial" and reminds us that his previous part was in the heavyweight "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf". Special guests Sanders and Helpmann bring their special brand of haughty authority to their roles as members of British Intelligence. In the mid-Sixties, the subgenre of the James Bond backlash film was becoming a crowded market. First isthe protagonist himself. 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. In terms of style The Quiller books aretaut and written with narrative pace at the forefront. The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall | Goodreads Sadly, Von Sydows formidable acting chops are never seriously challenged here, and his lines are limited to fairly standard B-movie Euro-villain speak. Reviews of The Quiller Memorandum Letterboxd Finally, he is placed in the no-win position of either choosing to aid von Sydow or allowing Berger to be murdered. This time he's a spy trying to get the location of a neo-Nazi organization. The love interest between Quiller and Inge (Senta Berger) developed with no foundation. It relies on a straight narrative storyline, simple but holding, literate dialog and well-drawn characters. Hassler drives them to meet an old contact he says knows a lot more, who turns out to be Inge's headmistress. George Sanders and others back in London play the stock roles of arch SIS mandarins who love putting people down, wearing black tie and being the snobs that they are. 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). youtu.be/rQ4PA3H6pAw. An almost unrecognizable George Segal stars in "The Quiller Memorandum," set in Berlin and made 40 years ago. Another characteristic of Halls style isthe ending of chapters with a cliff hanger. A few missteps toward the end so that a few of the twists felt thin and not solidly set up, but overall very nicely plotted and written. Widescreen viewing is a must, if possible, if for no other reason than to fully glimpse the extraordinary stadium built by Hitler for the 1936 Olympic games. I thought the ending was Quller getting one last meeting with the nice babe and sending a warning to any remaining Nazis that they are being watched. In . American agent Quiller (George Segal) arrives in Berlin and meets with his British handler Pol (Alec Guinness). The Quiller Memorandum Cineaste Magazine His romantic interest is Senta Berger, whose understated and laconic dialog provides the perfect counterpoint to Segal's character. Published chrismass61 Aug 21 2013 "[4], The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 67% of critics have given the film a positive rating, based on 12 reviews, with an average score of 7.4/10. Can someone explain it to me? 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. DVD Savant Review: The Quiller Memorandum - DVD Talk 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. Neo-Nazi plot These include another superior soundtrack by John Barry, if perhaps a little too much son-of "The Ipcress File", some fine real-life (West) Berlin exteriors, particularly of the Olympic Stadium with its evocation of 1936 and all that and Harold Pinter's typically rhythmic, if at times inscrutable screenplay. Directed by Michael Anderson; produced by Ivan Stockwell; screenplay by Harold Pinter; cinematography by Erwin Hiller; edited by Frederick Wilson; art direction by Maurice Carter; music by John Barry; starring George Segal, Max Von Sydow, Alec Guinness, Senta Berger, and guest stars George Stevens and Robert Helpmann. Alec Guinness plays spymaster Pol, Quillers minder. The mind of the spy It was from the quiller memorandum ending of the item, a failed nuclear weapons of Personalized Map Search. They are all members of Phoenix, led by the German aristocrat code-named Oktober. 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). Want to Read. They both go to the building, whereupon they are captured. With what little information the British operatives are able to provide him especially in his most recent predecessor, Kenneth Lindsay Jones, working alone without backup against advice, Quiller decides to take a different but potentially more dangerous tact than those predecessors in showing himself at three places Jones was known to be investigating, albeit in coded terms, as the person who has now taken over the mission from Jones in the probability that the Nazis will try to abduct him for questioning to discover what exactly their opponents know or don't know, and to discover in turn their base of operations in West Berlin. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Quiller wakes up beside Berlin's Spree River. From that point of view, the film should be seen by social, architectural, and urban landscape historians. 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. 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. Quiller's assignment: to discover the location of the neo-Nazi . In addition to Pinters screenplay, the film was noted for its plot twists and the portrayal of Quiller as refreshingly vulnerable and occasionally inept. 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. 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. 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 Quiller Memorandum (1966) is one such film, and though it's one of the more obscure ones, it is also one of the better ones. I read a few of these many years ago when they first came out. And considering how terrible its one fight scene is, it's certainly a blessing that it doesn't have any more. There was also a TV series in 1975. It certainly held my interest, partly because it was set in Berlin and even mentioned the street I lived on several times. During the car chase scene, the cars behind Quiller's Porsche appear and disappear, and are sometimes alongside his car, on the driver's (left) side. It relies. Quiller then returns to his hotel, followed by the men who remain outside. The classic tale of espionage that started it all! The book is more focused on thinking as a spy and I found it to be very realistic. Be the first to contribute. The setting is the most shadowy "post WWII Berlin" with the master players lined up against each other - The Brits and The Nazi Heirs. Quiller, a British agent who works without gun, cover or contacts, takes on a neo-Nazi underground organization and its war criminal leader. The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall - Goodreads The name of the intelligence agency that Quiller ( George Segal) worked for was MI6. The Quiller Memorandum was based on a novel by Elleston Trevor (under the name Adam Hall). 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. The film has that beautiful, pristine look that seems to only come about in mid-60's cinema, made even more so by the clean appearance and tailored lines of the clothing on the supporting cast and the extras. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Turner Classic Movies Two British agents are murdered by a mysterious Neonazi organization in West Berlin. The West had sent a couple of agents to find out their headquarters, but both are killed. [5], According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $2,600,000 in rentals to break even and made $2,575,000, meaning it initially showed a marginal loss, but subsequent television and home video sales moved it into the black. My take was, he knows she's one of the bad guys, and same with the headmistress who he passes on the way out. And, the final scene (with her and Segal) is done extremely well (won't spoil it for those who still wish to see itit fully sums up the film, the tension filled times and cold war-era Germany). 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. closing theme, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 11:13. Quiller Memorandum, The (Blu-ray Review) - The Digital Bits 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. He does this in a lone-wolf way, refusing to be hampered by bodyguards. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. If you have seen this movie, and it leaves you very dissatisfied or with a bunch of bright orange question marks, don't worry ! George Segal is a fine and always engaging actor, but the way his character is written here, he doesn't really come across as "a spy who gets along by his brains and not by his brawn"; he seems interested almost exclusively in the girl he meets, not in the case he's investigating, and (at least until the end) he seems to survive as a result of a combination of his good luck and the stupidity of the villains. With George Segal, Alec Guinness, Max von Sydow, Senta Berger. 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. I've not put together a suite before so hopefully it works.Barry's short (35mins) if atmospheric score for the Cold War thriller The Quiller Memorandum, 1966. The scene shot in the gallery of London's Reform Club is particularly odious. The source novel "The Berlin Memorandum" is billed in the credits as being by Adam Hall. Quiller awakes in a dilapidated mansion, surrounded by many of the previous incidental characters. In many ways, it creates mystery through the notion of exploring "mystery" itself. He recruits Berger to help him infiltrate the Neo-Nazis and discover their base of operations, but, once again, is thwarted. 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. After their first two operatives leading the field mission are assassinated in subsequent order, the British Secret Service recruit Quiller, an American agent, to continue to lead that field operation, namely to discover the base of operations of a new Nazi organization in West Berlin, they whose general members hide in plain sight in blending in with all walks of West German society. As Quiller revolves around a plot that's more monstrously twisted than he imagines it to be . Alec Guinness gets to play a Smiley prototype but brings too much Noel Coward to the table. The setting is Cold War-divided Berlin where Quiller tackles a threat from a group of neo-Nazis who call themselves Phoenix. Quiller becomes drowsy from a drug that was injected by the porter at the entrance to the hotel. I wanted to make a list of all the things that are wrong with this film, but I can't - such a list would need much more than a thousand words. 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 . Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Drama. The Berlin Memorandum, renamed The Quiller Memorandum, was published in 1965 by Elleston Trevor, who used the pseudonym Adam Hall. Max von Sydow plays the Nazi chief quietly but with high camp menace. - BH. The cast is full of familiar faces: Alec Guinness, who doesn't have much of a role, George Sanders, who has even less of one, Max von Sydow in what was to become a very familiar part for him, Robert Helpmann, Robert Flemyng, and the beautiful, enigmatic Senta Berger. Quiller continues his subtle accusations, and Inge continues her denial of ever meeting Jones. For Quiller, it's a question of staying alive when he's not in possession of all of the facts. The Quiller Memorandum : definition of The Quiller Memorandum and Is Quiller going to wind up dead too? When they find, Quiller gives the phone number of his base to Inge and investigates the place. THE SITE FOR DIE HARD CRIME & THRILLER FANS. Oh, there are some problems, and Michael Anderson's direction is. One of the first grown-up movies I was allowed to go see by myself as an impressionable adolescent (yes, this was some years ago now) was the Quiller Memorandum, with George Segal. In the 60's, in Berlin, two British agents that are investigating a Neonazi ring are murdered. 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. 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. After the interview, he gives her a ride to her flat and stops in for a drink. He published over 50 novels as Elleston Trevor alone. Probably the most famous example of a solid American type playing an Englishman is Clark Gable from Mutiny On The Bounty. It was interesting to me that in 1965 (when I also happened to be living in Germany as a US Army dependent) the crux of the book was the fear of a Nazi resurgence -- and I'm not talking about skinheads, but Nazis deep within the German government and military. Quiller (played by George Segal) is an American secret agent assigned to work with British MI6 chief Pol ( Alec Guinness) in West Berlin. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - Plot Summary - IMDb Pretending to be a reporter, Quiller visits the school featured in the article. He finds that a bomb has been strapped underneath and sets it on the bonnet of the car so it will slowly slide and fall off due to vibration from the running engine. I am not saying he was bad in the filmor at least that bad. I'm generally pretty forgiving of film adaptations of novels, but the changes that were made just do not make sense. The film magnificently utilizes West German locations to bring the story to life. He brings graceful authority and steely determination to his role. The Quiller Memorandum - Rate Your Music The brawny headmistress points Quiller in the direction of Inge (Senta Berger), who happens to be the only English-speaking teacher at the school. The films featured secret agent is the very un-British Quiller (George Segal), a slightly depressive American operative on loan to Britains secret services (take that, Bond!). See production, box office & company info, Europa-Center, Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany. Fairly interesting spy movie, but doesn't make much sense under close scrutiny. In this first book in the QUILLER series, undercover agent Quiller is asked to take the place of a fellow spy who has recently been murdered in Berlin, in identifying the headquarters of an underground but powerful Nazi organization, Phnix, twenty years . His book. 1966. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) - IMDb Quiller avoids answering Oktober's questions about Quiller's agency, until a doctor injects him with a truth serum, after which he reveals a few minor clues. The Quiller character is constantly making terrible decisions, and refuses to use a gun, and he's certainly no John Steed. The plot holes are many. The photo shows a man in Luftwaffe (airforce) uniform. The Quiller Memorandum Audible Audiobook - Unabridged But the writing was sloppy and there was a wholly superfluous section on decoding a cipher, which wasn't even believable. Pol tells Quiller the fascist underground is far more organized and powerful in Germany than people believe. Hes lone wolf who lives or dies by his own actions a very clean and principled approach to espionage. Lindt (Berger) is a school teacher who meets Quiller to translate for him. 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. ago Just watched it. Older ; About; Quiller goes back to the school and confronts Inge in her classroom. The book and movie made a bit of a splash in the spy craze of the mid-sixties, when James Bond and The Man From Uncle were all the rage. The thugs believe him dead when they see the burning wreckage. I read the whole Quiller series when I was younger, and loved it. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. An American agent is sent to Berlin to track down the leaders of a neo-Nazi organization, but when they . George Segal as Agent Quiller with Inge Lindt (Senta Berger). Quiller Memorandum, The - DVD Talk His two predecessors were killed off in their attempts, but he nevertheless proceeds with headstrong (perhaps even bullheaded) confidence without the aid of cover or even a firearm! En route he has some edgy adventures. It's not my intention to be obnoxious and list every point in the movie that strays from the book, but it's truly a shame that such well-crafted material--intriguing back stories, superior spy tactics--is wasted here. He also works alone and without contacts. Unfortunately, the film is weighed down, not only by a ponderous script, but also by a miscast lead; instead of a heavy weight actor in the mold of a William Holden, George Segal was cast as Quiller. February 27, 2023 new bill passed in nj for inmates 2022 No Comments . But don't let it fool you for one minutenor Mr. Segal, nor Senta Berger as the girl. Phoenix boss Oktober (Max von Sydow) with George Segal, seated. The Quiller Memorandum, British-American spy film, released in 1966, that was especially noted for the deliberately paced but engrossing script by playwright Harold Pinter. Quiller confronts a man who seems to be following him, revealing that he (Quiller) speaks German fluently. In 1966, the book was made into a successful film starring George Segal, Max Von Sydow, Senta Berger, and Alec Guinness. 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. Watchlist. The Quiller Memorandum 1966, directed by Michael Anderson | Film review The Quiller Memorandum Film Time Out says The thinking man's spy thriller, in as much as Harold Pinter wrote the script. His investigations (and baiting) lead him to a pretty schoolteacher (Berger) who he immediately takes a liking to and who may be of assistance to him in his quest. The Quiller Memorandum subtitles | 36 subtitles Summaries 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. Quiller is eventually kidnapped and tortured by Oktober (Max von Sydow), the leader of Phoenix. Having just read the novel, it's impossible to watch this without its influence and I found the screen version incredibly disappointing. Whats left most open to interpretation is Inges role in all this: was she a Janus-faced Nazi mole who used sex as a weapon to lead Quiller into a trap? 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When Quiller returns to his hotel, a porter bumps Quiller's leg with a suitcase on the steps. The original, primary mission has been completely omitted. Berger is luminous and exceedingly solid in a complicated role. Another isQuillers refusal to carry a weapon hebelieves it lends the operative an over-confidence and cangive the opposition an opportunity to turn your firearm against you. The Chief of the Secret Service Pol (Alec Guinness) summons the efficient agent Quiller (George Segal) to investigate the location of organization's headquarter.