Review of Topaz (1945) by Paul D — 03 Nov 2017

Topaz should appeal to those who like intricate, Cold War spy thrillers, but not to those who prefer action. It is one of Hitchcock's weaker efforts, at the end of his career. The biggest problem seems to come from trying to stuff so much from Leon Uris' big novel into a standard-length film.

It is clunky at times and, while sustaining an interesting level of suspense, does not sustain dramatic interest nor rise to the dramatic occasions that the story presents. There are some excellent scenes, but some pedestrian ones as well.

While watching the film it occurred to me that some of Hitchcock's techniques that had worked so well in earlier years seemed to fall flat. And does anybody know why he declined to use box-office stars in the film? Forsythe, Piccoli and Noiret are excellent, but in rather small roles.