Espionagem Internacional

What seems sometimes like an incredible tale of how a con man easily convinces the British and the Germans that he's working for them during WWII, with very little effort, is given rather routine treatment under the direction of Terence Young.

Christopher Plummer, fresh from playing the Captain in "The Sound of Music," lends a polished air of humor and sarcasm to the role of Eddie Chapman, a safe cracker who makes himself useful to both the British and the German armies by acting as a go between who uses his skills to thwart Germany's war plans for bombing London. Based on a true story, I'm sure it embellishes the truth with lots of fictional twists and turns that serve the purpose of keeping a viewer tuned in to find out what happens next.

A shorter running time would have helped, but the performances are all on a good level with special nods to Yul Brynner, Trevor Howard, Gert Frobe and Romy Schneider. Much of the story seems unconvincing despite the fact that the basic ingredients are based on a true story.

Somehow, Plummer's casting seems slightly off for this kind of material. Gert Frobe is a standout as a doubting Nazi who suspects Plummer is not quite what he pretends to be. Brynner is more low key than usual as an anti-Nazi German officer who knows the end of the war is near. Romy Schneider is excellent as Plummer's love interest.

Could have been a much tighter, more suspenseful tale than it is.

The ghost of Bond is fairly obvious here. Plummer as the real life safe cracker Eddy Chapman is suitably suave and charming and Yul Brynner is his normal stiff martinet (with added monocle)and Romi Schneider is "okay" (the love scenes are mostly a dud and show little chemistry between Romi and Chris). The production design is pretty good, lots of authentic uniforms and arms, plus plenty of genuine WW2 trucks and cars, the naughty Nazis are a tad stereotypical, but the conference scenes in the Paris hotel are well produced. Perhaps an aircraft buff can identify the twin engined plane used in several sequences, it certainly didn't look German! Overall an entertaining way of passing the time with few phony heroics.

This espionage-Flic based on fact concerns an astute safe-cracker named David Chapman (Christopher Plummer) who encounters himself working for both contenders in the 40s , as the German secret service commanded by a baron (Yul Brynner) and a colonel (Get Frobe) , and British military (led by Trevor Howard and Jess Hahn) . Meanwhile , he falls in love with a gorgeous resistance fighter (Claudine Auger) and a mysterious German countess (Romy Schneider) . Chapman attempts to cheat both sides and play each other . The he's sent a dangerous mission and parachuted in England with objective to reconnaissance and factory's sabotages . He's even decorated by General Von Runstedt (Marcel Journet).

Based on real events starred by a true bank robber named Eddie Chapman , this film packs action , suspense , warlike feats and being quite entertaining. First-rate main cast as Christopher Plummer as an amoral but sympathetic double agent adding a bemusing touch , Yul Brynner as a disillusioned German officer, Von Stauffemberg-alike , and a splendid Get Frobe as a cunning Colonel . Ample and stunning supporting cast with a magnificent Trevor Howard , and the beautiful Claudine Auger and Romy Schneider, among others . Here appears uncredited prestigious secondaries , such as Gordon Jackson , Howard Vernon , Bernard Fresson and Gordon Jackson . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Henry Alekan , Terence Young's usual cameraman (Mayerling , Poppies are also flowers) . Enjoyable musical score by George Garvarentz in a James Bond style . The motion picture was professionaly directed by Terence Young , but contains some flaws and gaps , though tension at times, as well . The film was realized in his best period when he made the classic Bonds films (Dr No, From Russia with love and Thunderball). In fact Young directed actors who played in James Bond movies as Claudine Auger-Thunderball and Anthony Dawson-Dr. No and also performed Gert Frobe who made Goldfinger and Terence wanted his Dr. No leading lady Ursula Andress to star opposite Christopher Plummer . Rating : 6/10 : Acceptable and passable.

These international films were big in the '60s, and Triple Cross is no exception. It stars Christopher Plummer, Romy Schneider, Trevor Howard, Yul Brynner, Gert Frobe, and Claudine Auger.

Triple Cross is loosely based on the exploits of Eddie Chapman, a successful thief who becomes an agent for the Germans and then an agent for the English, though he keeps working for the Germans.

The story is even more fascinating because it's true, but somehow, the film falls flat. Instead of being on the edge of your seat, you relax on the couch. Its pace was somewhat slow, the editing jumpy, and the film is short on action.

Christopher Plummer is a wonderful actor, but one gets the feeling that Eddie Chapman was scrappier and lower class than he's portrayed here. The beautiful Romy Schneider is wasted.

The film is directed by Terence Young, responsible for some wonderful films: Wait Until Dark and some James Bond films, and then some not as successful, such as one of the worst films ever made, Bloodline, and another bomb, Mayerling. So one can say he was inconsistent. Unfortunate.

There are apparently two books on Chapman which are probably more interesting.

Quite right, it is definitely not a German plane. The aircraft is a 1946 French SNCAC Martinet.

This was enjoyable to watch on a quiet evening at home. It was particularly interesting for me because I knew nothing of Edward Chapman's charmed life and wartime exploits so now I would like to know more about him and I'll be tempted to read up a bit and do some research about him.

The film was well made with good production values and direction. My complaint is with the editing which was off kilter at times. The story line was abrupt and frequently resulted in too many fast changes. For instance we needed to see how Edward Chapman got passage on the vessel to Lisbon.