Review of Billion Dollar Brain (1967) by Truls B — 12 Aug 2011

A good opening scene with the most welcome sparring of Doleman and Caine can not save the third film in the series of Harry Palmer.

The plot itself, particularly the part that involves Malden's scam is quite amusing and somewhat clever. It quickly drowns though, in all the potential triple- and quadruple crosses that get tedious all too early. In this quest they waste Homolka. His scene is, naturally, impeccable though, but as part of the plot it's too much too early combined with the other dubious characters.

Another utter waste is Ed Begley Sr., reduced to a character that is barely a cartoon. Raving mad, with incessant rambling. This is not helped by Russell's cross-cutting and some horribly annoying music in a scene that is probably the most irritating in the sixties. It would seem as if he has given influence to the Yee-haw character from The Simpsons, though. The mad, rich cowboy that loves to shoot. It appears King Midas was not dead after all.

Karl Malden never really seems to find his character and ends up a whining little runt that always appears to be in the way.

All in all it has some good suspense early on and shows promise as a spy thriller. It all falls to pieces at the introduction of Begley's group combined with more screentime for Malden.