Triple Cross (1966)

Undescribable Perfection

Touches You

Thanks for the memories!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Interesting if somewhat lifeless WWII espionage tale that's loosely based on a true story and has hints of James Bond. Christopher Plummer plays a British criminal who's caught pulling a heist in Nazi Germany. While in jail he convinces his captors.that he could be a double agent and work for them. He's tasked with going back to England to blow up a British airplane factory (for a hefty payday and a pardon for past crimes) and does so by telling the British he'll work for them as a double agent if they let him blow up the airplane factory (for a hefty payday and a pardon for past crimes). Plummer then returns to German having accomplished his mission, looking to collect his payday, but the tide is turning against the Germans at this point and he may not be able to collect his payday and must soon choose sides. The most interesting part of the film is that it's never makes clear where Plummer's true allegiances lie, which sets up a clever shot at the end of the film when he stares at himself in a mirror, highlighting the lack of clarity who we are really looking at. The film boasts a strong supporting cast that includes German love interest Romy Schneider, Yul Brynner as a monocle wearing Nazi, Trevor Howard as a MI6 agent, and even Bond alumni Gert "Goldfinger" Fröbe and Bond Girl Claudine Auger, Domino from "Thunderball." The film was also directed by veteran Bond director Terence Young ("Dr. No," "From Russia With Love," and "Thunderball"). However, on the downside, Plumber is disappointingly uncharismatic in the lead. Also, as interesting of a story premise the film has, it lacked any real drama, either on an emotional level between Plummer and Schneider or with any sort of inner conflict over his changing alligences, but also lacking with basic action or suspense with the factory bombing or the other espionage sequences, which all felt rather perfunctory and by the numbers. The film needed either more James Bond thrills or more "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" drama. Instead, we're left with a bit of both and not enough of either. Still, the story and the cast are enough to carry the picture and make it worth watching.

After making Quite a Splash Directing the First Two James Bond Films and by doing so Set the Template for the Quintessential, still Considered Today, Bond Movies, Terence Young delivered this somewhat Lighthearted and Tepid Spy Thriller that just Never Thrills. In Fact, it Doesn't Do Much of anything Except Disappoint. The Aloof Whimsical Tone is its Biggest Misstep. Christopher Plummer Plays a Real Life Double Agent Working for the Nazis and the Brits, but Mostly Working for Himself, Hence the Title.The Film is Flat and Never at all Seems Real in any sense. It's Wartime Setting is Never Convincing. Plummer does OK adopting a Sarcastic, Winning Personality that Helps Him Con Everyone in Close Proximity, including the Charming of Women. The Film Makes Much of this Playboy Image, Probably a Nod to James Bond.Yul Brynner just About Steals the Show as a Bespectacled Aristocratic Officer that Befriends Plummer. Gerte Frobe Adds some Intrigue as an X-Policeman, Now a Nazi Officer that has Suspicions about the British "Turncoat" from the Beginning.Overall, Recommended for Fluffy Wartime Entertainment. But the Film Overall will Disappoint Serious Film Fans of the Subject, as it is Universally Panned for Not Living Up to its Potential. An Average Movie at Best and a Mishandled Mess at Worst.

These international films were big in the '60s, and Triple Cross is no exception. It stars Christopher Plummer, Romy Schneider, Trevor Howard, Yul Brynner, Gert Frobe, and Claudine Auger.Triple Cross is loosely based on the exploits of Eddie Chapman, a successful thief who becomes an agent for the Germans and then an agent for the English, though he keeps working for the Germans.The story is even more fascinating because it's true, but somehow, the film falls flat. Instead of being on the edge of your seat, you relax on the couch. Its pace was somewhat slow, the editing jumpy, and the film is short on action.Christopher Plummer is a wonderful actor, but one gets the feeling that Eddie Chapman was scrappier and lower class than he's portrayed here. The beautiful Romy Schneider is wasted.The film is directed by Terence Young, responsible for some wonderful films: Wait Until Dark and some James Bond films, and then some not as successful, such as one of the worst films ever made, Bloodline, and another bomb, Mayerling. So one can say he was inconsistent. Unfortunate.There are apparently two books on Chapman which are probably more interesting.

Quite right, it is definitely not a German plane. The aircraft is a 1946 French SNCAC Martinet.This was enjoyable to watch on a quiet evening at home. It was particularly interesting for me because I knew nothing of Edward Chapman's charmed life and wartime exploits so now I would like to know more about him and I'll be tempted to read up a bit and do some research about him.The film was well made with good production values and direction. My complaint is with the editing which was off kilter at times. The story line was abrupt and frequently resulted in too many fast changes. For instance we needed to see how Edward Chapman got passage on the vessel to Lisbon.