The Quiller Memorandum (1966)

An enjoyable if flawed 1960s spy thriller. Quiller (George Segal) is an agent sent to Berlin by Pol (Alec Guinness) to hunt a gang of neo-Nazis. However, the Nazis led by Oktober (Max von Sydow) are always one step ahead of him. He needs to find their base and they want to find his. So begins a battle of wits and truth drugs across 1960s Berlin (which is the real star of the show). 

Quiller hooks up with Inge (Senta Berger) who also gets into danger. Of course there is more than meets the eye behind much of what we see...

This is a 1960s spy film in the LeCarre style rather than Bond. Written by Harold Pinter it has the intelligent dialogue, subtlety and lengthy pauses you might expect. It lacks much in the way of action though has plenty of suspense. At times the film is a bit too campy and gets dangerously close to being a spoof. However, the film is worth sticking with.

The film leaves things slightly ambiguous. A great soundtrack by John Barry and a theme song by Matt Munro make this a classic 1960s British spy film.