Operation Diplomat

Brilliant thriller by the inimitable Francis Durbridge, the man behind the Paul Temple series, always sophisticated intrigues impossible to figure out with atmospherical ingredients as the plots always thicken. Guy Rolfe is perfect as the surgeon who is kidnapped to operate on a patient unknown, who appears to have been a kidnapped top diplomat and security chief whisked away to Berlin, but naturally there are complications. The tempo is high, the suspense constantly increases, but there will be no disappointments, although it will be impossible to get the hang of all of it. Another marvel adding to the intensity of the film is the very suggestive music by Wilfred Burns - I never saw his name in another film.

A lot happens in this fast-paced thriller from 1953, apparently condensed down from a popular TV series which may go some way in explaining the lightning-fast plotting. The storyline involves a respected surgeon who is waylaid one night and paid to perform an operation on a mysteriously ill old man. The next day it soon transpires that his actions were the part of some nefarious criminal plan. He learns that the criminal gang haven't finished with him yet, so with the police hot on his tail he must both prove his innocence and bring the criminal plot to a close.

It's familiar stuff indeed, but OPERATION DIPLOMAT works thanks to the above-average execution. The use of Nettlefold Studios is done in such a way as to make this look like a respectably-budgeted film, even if it wasn't. There are murders a-plenty here, alongside some well-directed action from TOWERING INFERNO director John Guillerman; a rooftop chase is a particular standout. I love the choice of lead in this one, the incredibly tall and impossibly gaunt Guy Rolfe, an actor who was to finish his career making PUPPET MASTER sequels for Charles Band in America but who acquits himself very well here. The supporting cast has also been well picked, with the lovely Patricia Dainton never failing to disappoint and Ballard Berkely having fun as one of his stock detective characters. A youthful Anton Diffring appears too, and I spotted a cameo from Desmond Llewellyn in the closing scenes.

Starting like a quickie remake of 'State Secret', with surgeon Guy Rolfe enlisted to operate upon a mystery VIP; it also anticipates the scenes in 'North by Northwest' and 'The Ipcress File' where the tidied up temporary locations of victims of abductions are revisited by the police to find the cupboard bare.

As befits an adaptation of a TV serial, there's an awful lot else going on in this enjoyable early thriller directed with humour and panache by the up and coming John Guillermin, with superb location work against a backdrop of postwar London by cameraman Gerald Gibbs.

The writers must have had their work cut out adapting the original six episode BBC TV series into just seventy minutes of film. No wonder the story starts at such a cracking pace. As soon as the opening credits fade, hospital consultant Mark Fenton is abducted to operate on a mysterious patient in a secret location. Fenton appeared in another adaptation of a Francis Durbridge TV series, THE BROKEN HORSESHOE (see my review). Here he's played by the gaunt figure of Guy Rolfe who proves ideal in the role. Fenton finds himself increasingly deeply involved in the affair of a missing diplomat in one of those thrillers where enigmatic remarks lead to sudden death and few people are quite who they seem. There's usually a sceptical copper to catch the hero in suspicious circumstances, and here Ballard Berkeley brings some character to the slightly sardonic Inspector Austin; his dealings with Fenton include some enjoyable dry humour between the pair. There's a brief uncredited appearance by William Franklyn as a colleague of Fenton's; it sounded as if he was addressed as Doctor Gillespie! It's a cleverly plotted, taut mystery, with a Cold War background, and Guillermin just about glosses over one or two inconsistencies in the narrative, caused, no doubt, by having to jettison so much of the original material.

When british doctor fenton is kidnapped and taken to a mysterious sick patient, it turns out to be a big shot politician. And then the bodies start piling up. And he doesn't want to be one of them! What is going on, and who is behind it? Can fenton tip off the coppers in time, or will they all get knocked off, like the other witnesses? It's okay. Not a lot of suspense... he sure gets involved in the chase, for a doctor! And as usual, the cops don't believe him. Whatevs. Stars guy rolfe, anton diffring. Was probably more suspense-ful when things were simpler. Directed by john guillermin. His big films were towering inferno and the 1978 death on the nile. Based on the story by francis durbridge.