Running Blind

I first saw this film coming up on WETA, a US PBS station in the mid '80's and couldn't wait as the book had been my absolute favourite from the early '70's. I was not disappointed.

Filmed entirely on location in Iceland, this BBC Scotland production, released January 1979, is a first class action adventure.

Former British agent Alan Stewart is blackmailed by his former boss Slade into delivering a package. It seems a simple messenger boy's job but things soon take a dramatic turn, and Stewart finds himself being chased across the ruggedly beautiful volcanic landscape, pursued by his nemesis, Kennikin (character actor Vladek Sheybal).

Excellent characterisation and performance by versatile and under-rated actor Stuart Wilson (1994 DEATH AND THE MAIDEN, several PRIME SUSPECTS and the 1998 MASK OF ZORRO ) as Alan Stewart, as well as 3 former U.F.O. series cast members (Sewell/Bishop/Sheybal) this is a taut and well told drama. Wilson's hairstyle and '70's tight flares are a bit dated, but Icelandic actress Heida Steindorrsdottir is flawless as Stewart's girlfriend, in what appears to be her only acting role to date.

There is strangely no concession to subtitling for the Russian and Icelandic dialogue nor for the written signs and one revealing newspaper article but these are minimal. The actors also seem to be doing most of their own stunts.

Based on the novel by Desmond Bagley, RUNNING BLIND has proved by far the truest adaptation of many of Bagley's stories. Five have been done - 3 are rubbish and the 4th, MACKINTOSH MAN, is a muddled Hollywood adaptation of THE FREEDOM TRAP which should have been far better than it was, given the likes of Paul Newman/James Mason, and John Huston directing. Filmed earlier (1973) MACKINTOSH MAN is incidentally the effective sequel to the story of Slade from RUNNING BLIND, where Sewell replaces veteran actor Ian Bannen as Slade.

Overall vote: 9 out of 10. This is a great adventure story and should be released on VHS/DVD. Please, BBC ??

It is now 2005 and I have clear memories of viewing this film on the BBC when it was originally broadcast. By definition that means it must have some special quality. Running Blind is a taut thriller,with a strong cast, and beautifully shot in Iceland (the scenery is as much a character as the main participants). A spy who thinks he has retired is asked to do a simple delivery job - but there is no such thing as a simple job in the world of espionage. A little dated perhaps - but as an example of cold-war double dealing and the treachery which is the life of a spook, it is highly recommended. I'd like to put in a plea for its release on video/DVD too.

I remember watching the first episode quite by accident - it was not something I would have normally chosen to watch, but within a few minutes of the start I was completely hooked. What a fantastic story, beautifully filmed and even now I am sure it would stand up against the best of the best thrillers shown since. Not long afterwards I saw the book on sale in WH Smiths and bought it. I had always previously found that to see a film or series and then to read the book is bitterly disappointing, even more so the other way round, but with the images of the characters from the series in my head, reading the Desmond Bagley book was an absolute delight from cover to cover. Even now, some 27 years later the book still gets read about once a year (though I almost know it word for word). Unfortunately my memories of the series are fading badly which is one reason I would be delighted should the BBC ever decide to release it on DVD. Surely it is only a matter of time. A highly recommended series to watch should you ever get the chance and a wonderful book to read.

This TV production's best things are a wonderful Land Rover jeep that goes over all manner of landscape in Iceland until some CIA marksman punctures its front left tire; and lovely Ragnheiður Steindórsdóttir.

That the aim is to stop British agent Stuart Wilson à la James Bond is only briefly baffling (why bring the CIA to Iceland to ice an MI 5 operative?) because by then even a dimwit sees that this story makes no sense at all, that these special agents, spies, gadget couriers et al amount to the most useless motley assortment any taxpayer unwittingly financing these operations can imagine.

There is one exception: Ragnheiður Steindórsdóttir. She amounts to much more than Stuart Wilson's pretty and curvaceous girlfriend - she changes tires, disobeys him, wants no one shot dead, but in the end fires off her rifle until nothing moves in a house full of Russian agents.

RUNNING BLIND is a most inappropriate title: Wilson has a clear sight of everything on Iceland's lunar-like flat expanses, and he has the telescopic sights and cross hairs to improve his vision when he needs it. Plus he can spot George Sewell as the rotten egg the moment the latter tries to have him killed by the first of many useless hitmen in this spy and counterspy saga.

I found myself laughing at all the tomato sauce passing for bleeding wounds, poor Ragnheiður getting shot in the arm and leg and still soldiering on, Wilson shot in the hand and still firing off his rifle, poor Kennekin sexually incapacitated, and planes and helicopters announcing the enemy's presence.

This unintentional comedy wastes you 2 priceless hours: a proper MacGuffin through and through, as Hitch would put it.

"Running Blind" is a wonderful movie. Its plot has several twists and turns, and the cast are more than good. I especially like the Icelandic female lead.

It concerns a retired British agent recalled to service for a delivery, and how, accompanied by his Icelandic girlfriend, he works at evading enemy pursuit.

This film's Icelandic location made it doubly interesting. Iceland is a beautiful country, but its landscape is very different from any other place I have seen, either in person or on film.

I hope that this film will be released in either VHS or DVD in the NTSC format, so that we in the United States can enjoy it once again.