Spione küßt man nicht

Meddlesome Rosalind Russell is positively grating in her first star billing, continually disrupting the flow of the plot and detracting from my enjoyment of the action. What idiot would spike the coffee of the chief cryptographer with sleeping pills in the midst of his trying to decode a secret enemy message with the lives of thousands of American troops hanging in the balance? "I was just trying to get you to get some sleep," was her meek response after the damage was done. And she continually does things like that! I suppose it was meant for comedy relief, but it didn't work for me. What was enjoyable was the persistent and methodical decoding methods used before computers were invented, and the follow-up in the effort to break a German spy ring, including an exciting but improbable ending. William Powell gives his usual wonderful charismatic performance, with Binnie Barnes also excellent as the femme fatale German spy and Cesar Romero very convincing as her accomplice. All other acting was uniformly good, but why was English-accented Henry Stephenson cast as a Russian ambassador?

Based on a book by Herbert O. Yardley, who was the head of the U.S. Secret Service during WWI, the film has an air of authenticity.

I think this film is a lot more enjoyable than did almost any of the other reviewers. They say the Russell character is annoying, and some even seem to blame it on the actress, rather than on the script, with one even claiming that she tries to steal the film from Powell. If you don't like it, blame the writer(s), but not the performers. I had never heard of this film before, had no knowledge that Russell was put into it as a Loy substitute or as a possible threat to Loy's status at MGM, yet almost the first thing that hit me about the film while watching it is what an excellent Nora Charles Rosalind Russell would have made. Up to the point of seeing this film, I had never even thought of anyone measuring up to Loy in that role, but Russell might well have done so. The character may be objectionable to some viewers, but the performance is perfect for what is being asked of her. Powell, of course, is standing on the top of Mount Everest in a role like this; nobody could ever touch him. But the whole cast is very good, most especially Binnie Barnes, who even only two years after THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII, has already done a marvelous job of shedding her British accent, but we're so used to her as a fairly high-comedienne that it comes as a surprise to see her here as a somewhat sympathetic-but-still-ruthless villainess, and she's really quite perfect (as she had been as Henry's last choppee!). I thought this a most enjoyable film throughout, mainly for the performances, true, but also for its lightness of touch.

Have always appreciated comedy and try to appreciate all types. One can't go wrong with anything that incorporates suspense, being a fan of thriller and mystery which is full of it if done right 'Rendezvous' certainly did appeal to me. If done right too, romance can work great too and there have been films that have mixed comedy, suspense and romance very well (i.e. 'Charade'). There is a lot of talent in the cast too so there was a lot going for this film.

The good thing about 'Rendezvous' is that a lot of it does work, there are many things that work very well indeed and it is definitely well worth seeing, with most of the cast being the main reason. At the same time, it doesn't live up to full potential and a couple of the things that easily could have worked brilliantly disappoints quite badly which is pretty frustrating. Sorry but part of me does get a little narked when something has a good deal of potential but either doesn't live up to full potential or completely wastes it.

'Rendezvous' does have a good deal of good things. It is very nicely filmed and has the right amount of grit without looking under-budgeted. William Axt's score is a mix of jaunty and ominous, which worked very well with the film's tone(s). The script does amuse and thought provoke and the direction on the most part is well judge. The story generally compels, but works best in the spy elements which were intriguing and clever as well as with the right amount of suspense.

Some of the comedy was amusing and cleverly interpolated. William Powell is in a part perfect for him and manages to show an expert mix of funny, debonair and intense. Binnie Barnes is also a delight and steals all her scenes while Cesar Romero is also in a role well suited to him. Seeing Lionel Atwill in a non-villain role was a pleasant surprise and he doesn't look taxed at all.

On the other hand, not everything in 'Rendezvous' works. There could have been less going on, a little too much goes on and parts are more tangled than they should have been which gives the film an at times over-complicated feel. Not all the comedy gels, more subtlety was needed and some of it distracts from the plot rather than moves it along.

Do agree too that Rosalind Russell, replacing Myrna Loy who would fitted the part perfectly, has an extremely annoying and sometimes implausibly written character and tries too hard, so she becomes annoying as well sadly. She and Powell's chemistry doesn't really sparkle and doesn't really gel either, actually didn't think they looked completely comfortable together.

In conclusion, interesting but decent but had the ingredients to be great. 6/10

This is a so-so movie starring the wonderful William Powell. I swear the man could have brought the phone book to life. It's a film about a spy ring, breaking some codes, and finding the mole. Costars include young, dark-haired Cesar Romero (by the time I knew who he was, he had white hair), Binnie Barnes, Lionel Atwill, and Rosalind Russell in a very early - and very annoying role. Russell is pretty (except for what looked a clown costume turned into a woman's suit), and she was certainly a masterful actress/comedienne of stage and screen. But this was not a good part. In fact, as I was watching it, I thought, I wonder if anyone else found this character - well, not very likable. The character reminded me a little bit of Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby, where Hepburn pursued Grant. But Katharine Hepburn played an airhead, and Russell portrays a down to earth woman. Somehow, her making a nuisance of herself with Powell isn't as fun as seeing Hepburn do it.

Bottom line, it's just not a great script, but it is interesting to watch.

I'm a big fan of William Powell, Rosalind Russell, screwball comedies, and old spy flicks. Wouldn't it have been nice for the two stars to have been in the same movie? After their amusing meeting near the beginning sets up a fine romantic comedy to follow, Powell glides into a serious espionage drama, while Russell goes full-throttle Gracie Allen ditz, with a side order of lovestruck Ginger Rogers.

Film series about The Thin Man, Bulldog Drummond or the lesser-known Torchy Blane, manage to blend the comedy and mystery elements into a harmonious union. This one plays out like a double bill that got spliced into a single mismatched plot. What a waste of talent and opportunity to start with such a promising pairing and end up with Russell's character so woefully out of place for the last 3/4 of the production.