Brotherhood of the Rose

This was a great book and turned into a surprisingly good movie, even for television. It was written by David Morrell, who also wrote First Blood, in case you didn't know. Robert Mitchum, David Morse, Connie Sellecca and a host of others made this quite an ensemble cast for a television production. If you can find the movie, watch it. If you can find the book, read it. After all, you have what else to do?

Theres a scene where two KGB agents appear and begin firing at Connie. I have never felt so engaged in a scene in my life. I don't know who these men were but that's the kind of talent I want to see. I felt fear, angst, and pure captivation. These kinds of moments in movies is something I have come to find rare over my 20+ years as a critic. However, this moment is one for the ages. Truly mesmerizing. Bravo!

David Morrell is perhaps best known for writing First Blood, but he's much more than John Rambo. He's also an excellent spy novelist, and this one could have been written by Robert Ludlum.

Yes - it's a dated movie. I'm writing this 30 years after it was released. The acting is stiff, and the action is very staged. But - the story is still good, and if you can suspend your disbelief for a moment, this is two hours well spent.

This is a intriguing spy movie, mainly because it doesn't follow the formula of most other spy-films.

This is not another one of those films where the goody spies on the baddie, the baddie captures the goody, reveals his devious plans to annihilate the world, the goody escapes, kills the baddie and saves the girl. The strengths of those sorts of films are found in their special effects, stunts and a drawn-out battle at the end of the film.

By contrast, the strength of the Brotherhood of the Rose is its intelligent and engaging plot. A spy is double crossed and aims to find out why before they find him. The answers turns out to be a rather complex and very well-conceived conspiracy.

It's only downfall is its crappy production level. The sound quality, editing, directing and screenplay are noted areas requiring improvement. The acting is also inconsistent, but the brilliant Robert Mitchum, David Morse, Rhys McConnochie and M. Emmet Walsh offer fairly solid performances to ensure that the acting does not stand out as a major downfall.

Some cheesy lines and awkward acting moments could have been left on the cutting room floor. There also appears to be an editing error here and there (where a scene cuts before it appears to be finished). Furthermore, whoever chose the cheap and tacky music should have been sacked.

Aside from that, a very good watch. However, it is fairly long - 3 hours or so. Yet, I like a film that isn't impatient if the story is worth unfolding gradually.

I first saw this film in the early 1990's on TV in the UK and really enjoyed it. It was shown again around 1996 and has not been shown since. The TV stations say they no longer have it and SKY MOVIES have never heard of it. It is a unique masterpiece but I am very disappointed that it is so very difficult to buy on VHS and I have not seen it in PAL format for us Brits across the big pond. If the producers want to make a quick buck, the public demand that this film be re-released as a DVD and made available world wide.

such effort by the actors and crew should not be left to rot behind closed doors. For the people who have not seen this film and like a good spy thriller please add your own comments and support my plea to make this masterpiece available.