Topas (1969)

Topas: Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. With Frederick Stafford, Dany Robin, John Vernon, Karin Dor. A French Intelligence Agent becomes embroiled in the Cold War politics first with uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and then back to France to break up an international Russian spy ring.

“u0026quot;Topazu0026quot; is one of Hitchcocku0026#39;s least satisfying films, yet the same time itu0026#39;s one of his most interesting ones, as well. Usually people donu0026#39;t remember it, maybe because there are no famous Hitchcock stars. Either the director didnu0026#39;t get any, or he didnu0026#39;t want them, because the audiences should tightly concentrate on the complex plot.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film clearly divides into three parts. The one in the middle, which takes place in Cuba, is the best of them. It involves the films most memorable scene, the beautifully photographed murder. Weakest part is the last one, where you might get confused with the messy intrigues.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere are too many characters in the movie, which leaves many of them just bystanders, for example the worried wife (Dany Robin), who doesnu0026#39;t do really anything. The films brightest spot is Karin Dor, who gives an excellent performance as the beautiful Juanita. Too bad that her screen time is quite short. And the ending climax shines with its absence: the film ends like bumping into a wall.”