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L'Espion

Original title: L'espion
  • 1966
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
837
YOUR RATING
Montgomery Clift, Hardy Krüger, and Macha Méril in L'Espion (1966)
DramaThriller

An American scientist is sent by the CIA to East Germany to retrieve a secret microfilm from a Soviet scientist interested in defecting to the West but the Stasi secret police's surveillance... Read allAn American scientist is sent by the CIA to East Germany to retrieve a secret microfilm from a Soviet scientist interested in defecting to the West but the Stasi secret police's surveillance complicates matters.An American scientist is sent by the CIA to East Germany to retrieve a secret microfilm from a Soviet scientist interested in defecting to the West but the Stasi secret police's surveillance complicates matters.

  • Director
    • Raoul Lévy
  • Writers
    • Robert Guenette
    • Raoul Lévy
    • Paul Thomas
  • Stars
    • Montgomery Clift
    • Hardy Krüger
    • Macha Méril
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    837
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Raoul Lévy
    • Writers
      • Robert Guenette
      • Raoul Lévy
      • Paul Thomas
    • Stars
      • Montgomery Clift
      • Hardy Krüger
      • Macha Méril
    • 25User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos45

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    Top cast13

    Edit
    Montgomery Clift
    Montgomery Clift
    • Professor James Bower
    Hardy Krüger
    Hardy Krüger
    • Counselor Peter Heinzmann
    • (as Hardy Kruger)
    Macha Méril
    Macha Méril
    • Frieda Hoffmann
    • (as Macha Meril)
    David Opatoshu
    David Opatoshu
    • Prof. Orlovsky
    Christine Delaroche
    • Ingrid Weiß
    Hannes Messemer
    Hannes Messemer
    • Dr. Saltzer
    Karl Lieffen
    • Major Windisch
    Uta Levka
    Uta Levka
    • Mädchen unter der Dusche
    Roddy McDowall
    Roddy McDowall
    • Agent Adams
    • (as Roddy Mc Dowall)
    Johannes Buzalski
    Johannes Buzalski
    • Spitzel
    • (uncredited)
    Jean-Luc Godard
    Jean-Luc Godard
    • Prof. Orlovsky's Freund und Doppelagent
    • (uncredited)
    Eduard Linkers
    Eduard Linkers
    • Fluchthelfer Franz Ritter
    • (uncredited)
    Rolf Zacher
    Rolf Zacher
    • Tommy
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Raoul Lévy
    • Writers
      • Robert Guenette
      • Raoul Lévy
      • Paul Thomas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    5.7837
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    Featured reviews

    7mereie

    Meets the mark, but could have done without a certain degree of directional awkwardness

    While making "The Defector", the director obviously went out of his way to produce a decent contemporary spy movie, containing an intricate plot, suspenseful action, beautiful scenery (lots of nice German locations – both city and countryside – and characteristic locals), tin loads of extras and an unexpected ending. Up to a point, he succeeded in his mission. The movie is certainly enjoyable enough to watch. Unfortunately there are also some drawbacks causing it not to exceed the level of decent mediocrity. I suppose the problem is in the direction, for the leading actors are top-quality performers and the plot and scene setting are lifelike enough. In my experience, the dialogues are very clear – so clear, in fact, that they tend to lose the sort of grim realism and shadiness that might have added to the overall mood expected from this movie genre. The scenes are framed in such a way the viewer is in no doubt what is going on, but is not sucked in at the same time. From what we see, we understand it's all very serious business, but it just doesn't feel that way. The mental torture session in the specially prepared hotel room is gruesome, but it does not send shivers up our spines. The same thing goes for some other scenes in which Bower (Clift) is grilled by the Stasi. The slight caricature qualities of some of the additional characters (uniformed guards, labourers, Frieda Hoffman's (Macha Méril) flat mates) plus the occasionally corny traditional music are not helpful in this respect (the alienating sci-fi music in the torture scene is different – I suppose this was composed by Serge Gainsbourg – the rest seems miles away from his style). I do appreciate the ending of "The Defector", which leaves room for speculation (= did this happen by accident or on purpose?), but again, I was not as much in awe as I felt I should have been. In short, "The Defector" meets the mark, but could have done without a certain degree of directional awkwardness.
    7clanciai

    Unwilling spies being used for their own bad ends.

    This is a very poor film but a very interesting story. Montgomery Clift looks worn and torn in this intelligent thriller that was to be his last film at only 45. Hardy Kruger makes an equally interesting character but more convincing for his vitality. They both find themselves pawns in a political game, both are involuntarily recruited, and they both have some difficulty winding their way out of it. Towards the end of the film it gets finally exciting like a real thriller, but you have to wait long for it. Fortunately a beautiful young lady also gets involved, and she is let alone by the bullies.

    The main asset of the film is actually the delightful music by Serge Gainsbourg, which every time it tunes in gives some relief to a rather bleak and sordid story. It is in character very much like "Funeral in Berlin" of almost the same year but more sophisticated and interesting, while the Harry Palmer case is much more attractive as a film. Much of the flaws of the film are due to very poor direction - the directior has difficulties in bringing his actors to life. You must not be that formal and stiff, callous and expressionless in a film that involves great nervous strain, a love affair, brainwash ordeals and an escape for your life. Although the story is good and of great interest, the director fails to bring it sufficiently alive on screen to make it engaging.
    mrskywalker

    Suspenseful

    The Defector is an exciting Cold War film. It reminds me of Gregory Peck's The Chairman. Unfortunately this film is out of print. It seems that any films that deal with the Cold War are curiously going out of print or disappearing. If you get a chance see The Defector.
    5barnabyrudge

    Strictly average spy flick

    The Defector is the final screen appearance of the great Montgomery Clift. It is a decent enough performance, but barely matches the high standards of his earlier performances.

    The film itself is typical '60s Cold War stuff, with a complex plot and lots of cloak and dagger treachery. Clift plays a scientist who is blackmailed into working as a spy behind the Iron Curtain. His cover is dangerously thin from the beginning, but by the end it has been blown wide open and he has to flee for his life. Indeed, the film only really comes to life during that final half hour or so. The build up is mildly intriguing, but not sufficiently so to make this a great film. The location photography helps to give the film a sense of authenticity, if nothing else.

    I wouldn't recommend The Defector to anyone other than spy afficianados or fans of Montgomery Clift.
    5JoeytheBrit

    An interesting failure...

    Montgomery Clift was entering the final months of his life when he shot this film and it's kind of depressing to see how fragile he looks. In medium shots he doesn't look too bad, but when the camera gets in close you can see the gauntness, the way the skin looks parchment-thin across his cheeks. His fingers are orange from nicotine and, even without knowing that he was trying to use this film as an audition for the Brando role in Reflections in a Golden Eye, you can sense a trace of desperation in his eyes. His career was hanging by a thread and he knew it.

    The film tells a dour, jaundiced cold war espionage tale in a way that was quite fashionable in its day. It does well in capturing the austere mood of a communist bloc country and the location photography is interesting, but the story is very slow and there really isn't much to it until the final couple of reels. The scene which encapsulates the entire film consists of Clift and Hardy Kruger talking at a table and Clift's contribution to the conversation is mostly to repeatedly ask for his passport. The contrast (and conflict) of their respective countries' ideologies could (and has) make for an interesting subtext for a film, but its treatment is too dour here. There are nice touches, and an expectation on the part of the filmmakers of a degree of attention and intelligence on the part of their audience, but it never really succeeds in its objectives.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Last movie of Montgomery Clift.
    • Goofs
      At the end of the film when Montgomery Clift shouts, "Don't move him!" his lips are clearly forming other words.
    • Quotes

      Counselor Peter Heinzmann: He seems to suffer from a disease I can only call "espionitus".

    • Crazy credits
      Most items in the closing credits appear and/or disappear in time with rhythms in the final music.
    • Connections
      Featured in Making Montgomery Clift (2018)

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 9, 1966 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • The Defector
    • Filming locations
      • Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich, Bavaria, Germany(zoo - with elephant building in the background)
    • Production companies
      • PECF
      • Rhein Main
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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