Review of Topaz (1969) by Yogesh R — 13 Aug 2007

Very unconventional Hitchcock spy thriller featuring a large ensemble cast and no stars. The story is deliberately underplayed and non-explosive, so those looking for conventional thrills won't find them here.

But there are some truly unforgettable sequences: Roscoe Lee Browne sneaking around a Harlem hotel, John Vernon punishing the beautiful Karin Dor for her treachery. I also appreciated the slow-motion foot chase at the beginning and the downbeat realism of the deliberately anti-climactic ending.

If nothing else, there are some really beautiful European women in this film, and Hitchcock's reciprocal influence from his acolyte Truffaut can be seen in his casting Claude Jade. Oh, and John Forsythe is in this movie too, just in case you've ever wondered what "Charlie" looked like behind that speaker.