L'opération diabolique

Original title: Seconds

1966
12
1h 46m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

An unhappy middle-aged banker agrees to a procedure that will fake his death and give him a completely new look and identity - one that comes with its own price.An unhappy middle-aged banker agrees to a procedure that will fake his death and give him a completely new look and identity - one that comes with its own price.An unhappy middle-aged banker agrees to a procedure that will fake his death and give him a completely new look and identity - one that comes with its own price.

Director
- John Frankenheimer
Writers
- Lewis John Carlino
- David Ely
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

24K

YOUR RATING

Director
- John Frankenheimer
Writers
- Lewis John Carlino
- David Ely
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 3 nominations total

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Although this film is nowadays viewed as a cult classic, European critics at the Cannes Film Festival were so hostile to the film that director John Frankenheimer refused to leave nearby Monte Carlo, where he was shooting Grand Prix (1966), for the press conference. Rock Hudson was sent instead and was unable to answer the critical questions during the hostile session.

Goofs
At the beginning, when Arthur Hamilton is on the train, he gets his newspaper and starts doing crosswords with a pen in his right hand. Later on he signs the contract at the clinic with his holding the pen in his left hand.

Quotes
Tony: I couldn't help it, Charlie. I had to find out where I went wrong. The years I've spent trying to get all the things I was told were important - that I was supposed to want! Things! Not people... or meaning. Just things. And California was the same. They made the decisions for me all over again and they were the same things, really. It's going to be different from now on. A new face and a name. I'll do the rest. I know it's going to be different. I suppose you do too.

Alternate versions
The re-released version in 1996 (originally debuting on laserdisc) restores various shots of nudity to the "orgy" sequence involving crushing wine grapes. This was how John Frankenheimer originally shot the scene but the MPAA refused to allow the nudity to pass so the theatrical release was re-edited to remove all nude shots.

Connections
Edited into Bass on Titles (1982)

Soundtracks
That Old Black Magic
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played at the party

User reviews185

Featured review

8/10

Unnerving and Claustrophobic

SECONDS decries the dehumanization of the middle class. The protagonist is a successful banker, though successful at banking, in late middle age finds his life devoid of purpose. Given an opportunity to completely start his life over he jumps at the chance even though it means he must "die" and be reborn in a new body.

Filmed in black and white SECONDS has that unsettling jumpy-jangly editing and sound track I associate with 50s film noir. It keeps the viewer off balance and out of kilter, like the banker who slides slowly, effortlessly into a more ominous dehumanized existence than the one he left. An oddly (but successfully) cast Rock Hudson gives a great performance as the 'reborn' banker. Recommended when in the mood for something different.