This was the first book, and I liked it. The Quiller Memorandum is a film adaptation of the 1965 spy novel The Berlin Memorandum, by Trevor Dudley-Smith, screenplay by Harold Pinter, directed by Michael Anderson, featuring George Segal, Max von Sydow, Senta Berger and Alec Guinness.The film was shot on location in West Berlin and in Pinewood Studios, England.The film was nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards, while Pinter was nominated for an . Inge tells him she loves him, and he tells her a phone number to call if he is not back in 20 minutes. Always under-appreciated by U.S. audiences, it's a relief to know that she's had a major impact on the German film community in later years. It keeps the reader engrossed right up to the last couple of lines. I loved seeing and feeling the night shots in this film and, as it was shot on location, the sense of reality was heightened for me. Quiller, however, escapes, and with Inges help, he discovers the location of Phoenixs headquarters. ): as a result, they were summarily bumped off with stereotypical German precision. Try as he might though, he can't quite carry the lead here, lacking as he does the magnetism of Connery or the cynicism of Caine. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The whole thing, including these two actors, is as hollow as a shell. Soon Quiller is confronted with Neo-Nazi chief "Oktober" and involved in a dangerous game where each side tries to find out the enemy's headquarters at any price. After being prevented from using a phone, Quiller makes a run for an elevated train, and thinking he has managed to shake off Oktober's men, exits the other side of the elevated station only to run into them again. Oktober also wants to know the location of the British base in Germany and uses drugs in Quiller to get the information but the skilled agent resists. Studios: The Rank Organisation and Ivan Foxwell Productions, https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Quiller-Memorandum, BFI Screenonline - The Quiller Memorandum (1966), Britmovie.co.uk - "The Quiller Memorandum", The Quiller Memorandum - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Oktober informs Quiller that if he does not disclose secret information this time, both he and Inge will be killed. In 1965, writing under the pseudonym of Adam Hall, Elleston Trevor published athriller which, like Ian Flemings Casino Royale before it, was to herald a change in the world of spy thrillers. For my money, the top three cold war spy novelists were Le Carre, Deighton, and Adam Hall. Widescreen viewing is a must, if possible, if for no other reason than to fully glimpse the extraordinary stadium built by Hitler for the 1936 Olympic games. This repackaging includes some worthwhile special features like an isolated score track and commentary by film historians Eddy Friedfeld and Lee Pfeiffer of Cinema Retro magazine to go with the new format. What is the French language plot outline for The Quiller Memorandum (1966)? When Quiller returns to his hotel, a porter bumps Quiller's leg with a suitcase on the steps. Journeyman director Michael Andersons The Quiller Memorandum, which was as defiantly anti-Bond as you could get in 1966, has just been rescued from DVD mediocrity by the retro connoisseurs at Twilight Time and given a twenty-first-century Blu-ray upgrade. Set largely on location in West Berlin, it has George Segal brought back from vacation to replace a British agent who has come to a sticky end at the hands of a new infiltrating group of Nazis. What will Quiller do? Segal is an unusual actor to be cast as a spy, but his quirky approach and his talent for repartee do assist him in retaining interest (even if its at the expense of the character as originally conceived in the source novels.) It relies on a straight narrative storyline, simple but holding, literate dialog and well-drawn characters. A bit too sardonic at times, I think his character wanted to be elsewhere, clashing with KGB agents instead of ferreting out neo-nazis. Take a solid, healthy chicken's egg out of the hen house or the fridge Now throw out all the substance, and just keep the eggshell. When a spy film is made in the James Bond vein then close analysis is superfluous, but when the movie has a pretense of seriousness then it'd better make sense. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions. Quiller meets his controller for this mission, Pol, at Berlin's Olympia Stadium, and learns that he must find the headquarters of Phoenix, a neo-Nazi organization. The novels are esoteric thrillers, very cerebral and highly recommended. In the 60's, in Berlin, two British agents that are investigating a Neonazi ring are murdered. In the following chapter the events have moved on beyond the crisis, instantly creating a how? question in your mind. But Quiller shares an important kinship with Spy in that it challenges popular 007 mythmaking: freshly envisioning the unglamorous underside of an intelligence profession that the James Bond franchise had been relentlessly trivializing since its inception. Also published as "The Berlin Memorandum" (UK title). Soon after his amorous encounter with Inge, Quiller is drugged on the street by a crafty hypodermic-wielding operative and wakes up in a seedy basement full of stern-looking Nazis in business attire. Segal plays Quiller with a laconic but likeable detachment, underlining the loneliness and lack of relaxation of the agent, who can- not even count on support from his own side. His romantic interest is Senta Berger, whose understated and laconic dialog provides the perfect counterpoint to Segal's character. Write by: The Quiller Memorandum 1966, directed by Michael Anderson | Film review The Quiller Memorandum Film Time Out says The thinking man's spy thriller, in as much as Harold Pinter wrote the script. In the process, he discovers a complex and malevolent plot, more dangerous to the world than any crime committed during the war. In the West Berlin of the 1960s, two British agents are killed by a Nazi group, prompting British Intelligence to dispatch agent Quiller to investigate. The Quiller Memorandum certainly couldnt compete on an aesthetic level with a film like Spy Who Came in from the Cold: No actor, certainly not George Segal, is going to one-up Richard Burton in the anti-Bond department. An American agent is sent to Berlin to track down the leaders of a neo-Nazi organization, but when they . Where to Watch. Quiller tells Inge that they got most, but clearly not all, of the neo-Nazis. But admittedly its a tricky business second-guessing his dramatic instincts here. This was evidently the first of a very long series featuring the spy Quiller. Director Michael Anderson Writers Trevor Dudley Smith (based on the novel by) Harold Pinter (screenplay) Stars George Segal Alec Guinness Max von Sydow See production, box office & company info It's hard to believe this book won the Edgar for Best Novel, against books by Mary Stewart, Len Deighton, Ross MacDonald, Dorothy Salisbury Davis, and H.R.F. Alec Guinness gets to play a Smiley prototype but brings too much Noel Coward to the table. The Quiller Memorandum, British-American spy film, released in 1966, that was especially noted for the deliberately paced but engrossing script by playwright Harold Pinter. Quiller had the misfortune to hit cinemas hot on the heels of two first-rate examples of Bond backlash: Martin Ritts gritty The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and the first (and easily best) entry in the acclaimed Harry Palmer trilogy, The Ipcress File, both released in 1965. Weary, Quiller only accepts the assignment on the assumption that he can fulfill a self-made promise revenge for a friend. Slow-moving Cold War era thriller in the mode of "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold," "The Quiller Memorandum" lacks thrills and fails to match the quality of that Richard Burton classic. Unfortunately, the film is weighed down, not only by a ponderous script, but also by a miscast lead; instead of a heavy weight actor in the mold of a William Holden, George Segal was cast as Quiller. Following the few leads his predecessor Jones had accumulated, Quiller finds himself nosing around for clues in the sort of unglamorous places in which Bond would never deign to set footbowling alleys and public swimming pools, especially. The film starred George Segal in the lead role, with Alec Guinness supporting andwas nominated for three BAFTAs. Quiller's assignment: to discover the location of the neo-Nazi . 1966's The Quiller Memorandum is a low-key gem, a pared-down existential spy caper that keeps the exoticism to a minimum. This reactionary quake in the spy genre was brief but seismic all the same. Book 4 stars, narration by Simon Prebble 4 stars. She claims she turned in the teacher from the article, and points out the dilapidated Phoenix mansion. At a key breakfast meeting, Pol uses two blueberry muffins to outline the particularly precarious cat-and-mouse game Quiller must play while in the gap between his own side and the fascist gang. This spy novel about neo-Nazis 1960's Berlin seemed dated and a little stilted to me. Its there to tackle the dirty jobs, and Quiller is the Bureaus go-to guy. And considering how terrible its one fight scene is, it's certainly a blessing that it doesn't have any more. This is one of the worst thriller screenplays in cinema history. This well-drawn tale of espionage is set in West B. No one really cared that Gable did not even attempt an English accent the film was that good. Quiller is released. The nation remained the home of the best spies. Pol dispatches a team to Phoenix's HQ, which successfully captures all of Phoenix's members. A Twilight Time release. Have read a half dozen or so other "Quiller" books, so when I saw that Hoopla had this first story, I figured I should give it a listen to see how Quiller got started. AKA: Ivan Foxwell's the Quiller Memorandum, Quiller, Quiller Memorandum, Ian Foxwell's The Quiller Memorandum, Ivan Foxwell's Production The Quiller Memorandum. The film was shot on location in West Berlin and in Pinewood Studios, England. Probably the most famous example of a solid American type playing an Englishman is Clark Gable from Mutiny On The Bounty. The film had its world premiere on 10 November 1966 at the Odeon Leicester Square in the West End of London. The former was a bracingly pessimistic Cold War alternative to freewheeling Bondian optimism that featured burnout boozer actor Richard Burton in an all-too-convincing performance as burnout boozer spy Alec Leamus. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Pol tells Quiller the fascist underground is far more organized and powerful in Germany than people believe. His virtual army of nearly silent, oddball henchmen add to the flavor of paranoia and nervousness. This books has excellent prose, unrealistic scenes, and a mediocre plot. An almost unrecognizable George Segal stars in "The Quiller Memorandum," set in Berlin and made 40 years ago. He begins openly asking question about Neo-Nazis and is soon kidnapped by a man known only as "Oktober". Berger is luminous and exceedingly solid in a complicated role. Get help and learn more about the design. I just dont really understand the ending to a degree. You HAVE been watching it carefully. In this first book in the QUILLER series, undercover agent Quiller is asked to take the place of a fellow spy who has recently been murdered in Berlin, in identifying the headquarters of an underground but powerful Nazi organization, Phnix, twenty years . The photo shows a man in Luftwaffe (airforce) uniform. His Oktober does, however, serve as a one-man master class in hyperironic cordiality: Ah, Quiller! Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. It's not my intention to be obnoxious and list every point in the movie that strays from the book, but it's truly a shame that such well-crafted material--intriguing back stories, superior spy tactics--is wasted here. I was really surprised, because I don't usually like books written during the 50s or 60s. For example operatives are referred to as ferrets, and thats what they are. Although the situations are often deadly serious, Segal seems to take them lightly; perhaps in the decade that spawned James Bond, he was confused and thought he was in a spy spoof. Lindt (Berger) is a school teacher who meets Quiller to translate for him. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Movie Info After two British Secret Intelligence Service agents are murdered at the hands of a cryptic neo-Nazi group known as Phoenix, the suave agent Quiller (George Segal) is sent to Berlin to. Thanks in advance. Is Quiller going to wind up dead too? Quiller wakes up beside Berlin's Spree River. The Quiller series is highly regarded by the spy-fiction community, and as strange as it may seem - because I have had most of the books for years - I have never actually read them. Quiller leaves the Konigshof Hotel on West Berlin's Kurfurstendamm and confronts a man who has been following him, learning that it is his minder, Hengel. The third to try is Quiller, an unassuming man, who knows he's being put into a deadly game. The Quiller Memorandum's strengths and charms are perhaps a bit too subtle for a spy thriller, but those who like their espionage movies served up with a sheen of intelligence rather than gloss or mockery will embrace Quiller.Still, there's no denying that that intelligence doesn't go as deep as it thinks it does, which can be frustrating. Quiller slips out though a side door to the small garage yard where his car is kept. These include another superior soundtrack by John Barry, if perhaps a little too much son-of "The Ipcress File", some fine real-life (West) Berlin exteriors, particularly of the Olympic Stadium with its evocation of 1936 and all that and Harold Pinter's typically rhythmic, if at times inscrutable screenplay. ago Just watched it. All Rights Reserved. He recruits Berger to help him infiltrate the Neo-Nazis and discover their base of operations, but, once again, is thwarted. The book itself sets a standard for the psychological spy thriller as an agent (code-named Quiller) plays a suspense-filled cat-and-mouse game with the head of a neo-Nazi group in post-war Berlin. They both go to the building, whereupon they are captured. Neo-Nazi plot Quiller asks after Jones at the bowling alley without success and the swimming pool manager Hassler tells him spectating is not allowed. As for the rest of the movie, the plot, acting, and dialog are absolutely atrocious; even the footsteps are dubbed - click, click, click. Watched by Rui Alves de Sousa 04 Jun 2022. I havent watched too many movies from the 1960s in my lifetime, but the ones I have watched have been excellent (Von Ryans Express, Tony Rome, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Hustler, The Great Escape, etc, including this one.) Quiller would have also competed with the deluge of popular spy spoofs and their misfit mock-heroes: namely, Dean Martins drinking-and-driving playboy agent Matt Helm (The Silencers, Wrecking Crew) and James Coburns parody of Bondian suavity, Derek Flint, in the trippy spy fantasias Our Man Flint (1966) and In Like Flint (1967). The Quiller Memorandum came near the peak of the craze for spy movies in the Sixties, but its dry, oddly sardonic tone sets it apart from both the James Bond-type sex-and-gadget thrillers and the more somber, "adult" spy dramas such as Martin Ritt's The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965). Because the books were written in the first person the reader learns very little about him, beyond his mission capability. Performed by Matt Monro, "Wednesday's Child" was also released as a single. The scene shot in the gallery of London's Reform Club is particularly odious. The Quiller Memorandum Reviews. My take was, he knows she's one of the bad guys, and same with the headmistress who he passes on the way out. If you have seen this movie, and it leaves you very dissatisfied or with a bunch of bright orange question marks, don't worry ! A man walks along a deserted Berlin street at night and enters an internally lit phone box. Hengel gives Quiller the few items found on Jones: a bowling alley ticket, a swimming pool ticket and a newspaper article about a Nazi war criminal found teaching at a school. The intense first person narration which is the defining characteristic of the Quiller books comes into its own during this interrogation scene, and also during the latter chapters of the books as events begin to come to a head. First isthe protagonist himself. This demonstration using familiar breakfast food items serves to stimulate the American spys brainwaves into serious operative mode. Fresh off an Oscar nomination for the mental anguish he suffered at the hands of Richard Burton and Liz Taylor in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf (also 1966), George Segal seems, in hindsight, a dubious choice to play the offbeat Quiller. The Quiller Memorandum is the third Quiller novel that I have read, and it firmly establishes my opinion that Quiller is one of the finest series of espionage novels to have ever been written. Oktober reveals they are moving base the next day and that they have captured Inge. And although Harold Pinters screenwriting for Quiller doesnt strike one as being classically Pinteresque, occasionally his distinct style reveals itself in pockets of suggestive menace where silence is often just as important as whats spoken. This is the first in the series, and it seems to have a reputation for being a little different from what would become the typical Quiller novel. After the interview, he gives her a ride to her flat and stops in for a drink. effective, low key, intelligent, spy film, Attractive, thoughtful spy film with an excellent cast. That way theres no-one to betray him to the other side. Drama. All Rights Reserved. Phoenix boss Oktober (Max von Sydow) with George Segal, seated. They are not just sympathisers though. It was interesting to me that in 1965 (when I also happened to be living in Germany as a US Army dependent) the crux of the book was the fear of a Nazi resurgence -- and I'm not talking about skinheads, but Nazis deep within the German government and military.