Review of Telefon (1977) by Steve M — 06 May 2007

During the Cold War, renegade Soviet operative Nocolai Dalchimsky (Pleasence) is triggering deep-cover sleeper agents--so deep they don't even realize they're Soviet spies--by exposing them to the trigger that activates post-hypnotic suggestions that send them on murderous missions of sabotage and assassination. Colonel Grigori Borzov of the KGB (Bronson) and Barbara (Remick), a CIA operative, join forces to stop Dalchimsky before his actions trigger World War III.

"Telefon" is a spectacular Cold War thriller. The actors all give great performances, helped by a script that provides them with well-defined, multi-faceted characters. The script is tight and the tension level is high throughout... and the humorous moments actually inspire real laughs.

There are films that I wonder why they slip into obscurity, and "Telefon" is one of them. It's a film I thought would be far better known that it is, because it's a fabulous spy thriller.

Telefon.

Starring: Charles Bronson, Lee Remick, Tyne Daly, and Donald Pleasence.

Director: Don Siegal.