The Impossible Spy

The Impossible Spy is a BBC co-production and was deemed to be controversial at the time of its showing.

John Shea plays Eli Cohen who infiltrates the Syrian government and manages to acquire secrets and military intelligence which eventually allows Israel to win the Six Days War and take over The Golan Heights.

Eli Wallach plays the Mossad handler. Both leads are earnest and for a BBC TV film very different from its usual subject matter.

It can be seen to be slow and slightly heavy going. It is of course rather one sided hence the controversy as it was seen to have had an Israeli bias.

"The Impossible Spy" is a so-so spy flick and docudrama which tells of renowned Israeli spy Eli Cohen and his penetration of the Syrian government in the years prior to the Six Days War. The film has the look of a low budget indie and, though it's well meaning and earnest, it is not a very elegant flick. Furthermore, much of the story seems too obvious to be real spy stuff which probably just means it's true. Recommended for those into spy flicks or the history of the Syrian/Israel conflict of the 1960's.

The impossible spy 1987 (although roku has this as released 1986). Stars john shea, eli wallach. Cohen, an isreali, is sent to syria to gather information for mossad. He cozies up to all the syrian leaders, and learns their structure and habits. He even gets an apartment next to the headquarters. He learns the locations of troops and arms, and makes a trip back to israel to see his wife and pass the information to mossad, to help during the six day war. It runs like a documentary, all done pretty well. More details in the elie cohen entry in wikipedia dot com. The only other thing i had seen by jim goddard was shanghai surprise, and that didn't turn out well. He did win a bafta for the series "kennedy".

This is an amazing true story about one of history's greatest spies. And, I love this new Janson Media DVD of "The Impossible Spy" because it includes many important "extras" such as critic's reviews, trailer, and an on-location report featuring behind-the- scenes interviews with the stars, John Shea and Eli Wallach, about what it is like to be a spy. Also, there's a very good photo gallery, star information, and a time-line of all the major Arab- Israel conflicts that led up to Elie Cohen's incredible mission, and how vital it was for the outcome of the June 1967 Six-Day War.

The story is exciting and compelling. It's about an Israeli agent who was sent to Syria, via Argentina, in the 1960's and was so successful in infiltrating the Syrian High Command, that he was nominated to be their Deputy Defense Minister--and 3rd in line for the Presidency. Unbelievable. And, all true.

It's the same about all addictions in life, whether it is roulette, alcoholism, or, as in this case, the spying business. Our man here actually tries to quit and leave it behind, going to a normal life with wife and children, but Mossad just can't let such a natural gift with such a miraculous memory just lead a normal life, they try again and again to get him hooked for another job, and ultimately he can't resist it. He is so clever that he is successful, and he gets away with it and returns to his wife and children, everything seems to reach an established happy end, and yet he just wants to return to continue the job. Even Mossad tries to dissuade him, but he goes back one last time well aware of the risk he is taking.

The most interesting actor here is not Eli Wallach, who is always of extreme interest, nor John Shea as the lead, who is also absolutely credible in excellence, but Sason Gabay as the Syrian general whom he befriends and betrays. When his treason is beyond repair and nothing more can save him, the general still speaks with him, they still have a friendly conversation, the general has every reason to hate him and shoot him down without flinching, but he stays self-controlled and even grants the traitor his last wishes, giving the impression that he actually respects his former best friend who turned traitor more than hen can respect the general. Sason Gabay makes an almost unforgettable character of cool detachment in the most intolerable possible situation of a betrayed relationship.

The story is true and has the character of a genuine documentary.