简介：Lengthy,convolutedbutgenerallygrippingmixofcaperandespionagefilm–withsomanyclevertwistsofthe'nothingiswhatitseems'varietyanddouble-crosses/shiftsinallegiancestomakeevenHitchcock'sheadspin!FromwhatI'vewatchedofdirectorLupo'soutput(rangingfrompeplumstoSpaghettiWesternsandcomedy-adventures),thisemergesaseasilythemostsubstantial–thussatisfactory–effort. LuisBunuelregularClaudioBrookmaybeanunlikelyactionhero,buthe'snonethelesswonderfulhere.SydneyChaplinisthetoughcopwhofinallysuppliesthebiggestsurpriseofthefilm;JessHahn,naturallyappearingasathug,isinvolvedinasurprisinglybloodthirstyfistfightwithBrook'sphotographersidekick);AnthonyDawsonissinisterasalways,whileAndreaBosic(fromthe"Kriminal"films)turnsupasacorruptdiplomat.LusciousheroineDanielaBianchi,again,playsanambiguouscharacteruntilthefinalrevelation:shealsoprovesthatherroleinFROMRussia,WITHLOVE(1963)wasnofluke–incidentally,muchofwhatlittleshedidseemstohavebeeninthisvein!TheequallygorgeousTinaMarquandistypicallyperkyasanunwitting'agent';HarrietMedin,appropriately,appearsasDawson'sstern-lookingassistant;there'salsoanicebitbyRaymondBussieresasatrainconductorwhosepassengersareconstantlyvanishing. Thefilmisstylish(givenitsSwingingLondonandfashion-housebackdrops)andexciting(withanelaborateopeningrobberysequenceandplentyofchasesaroundthedockareaandinvastwarehousesthataremadeevenmoretensebyfrequentuseofodd/tiltedangles).Fortherecord,twocinematographersworkedonthistitle–FrancoVillaandStelvioMassi(lateradirectorofseveralpoliziotteschi):thelatterwasonlyemployedtowardstheendoftheshootbecausetheformerwascontractedtostartworkonanotherpicture;incidentally,thenotoriousJoeD'Amato(thenstillAristideMassaccesi)servedascameraoperatoronthisone!Ofcourse,there’salivelyFrancescoDeMasiscore–evenifitseemstohavelifteditsmemorablemainthemefromKRIMINAL(1966)!–andgratuitousnudityinvolvingablackgirl(whosecharacterunaccountablydisappearsthereafter)aswellasMarquand(akaAumont).Thehilariousclosinggag,then,providesanicetwistonthemuch-used'historyrepeatsitself'scenario.…