Telefon
Director: Don Siegel
Year: 1977
Rating: 5.0
This is rather a far-fetched film that doesn't hold together particularly
well as it proceeds to its conclusion. But that could be said of lots of
films but this one had promise that just putters out. When it ends I just
thought to myself - huh - that's it? Where was the big dramatic or action
scene that seemed inevitable. And it is also surprising because this was
directed by Don Siegel of Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz and the Body
Snatchers fame.
Decades earlier the Soviets had planted over 50 agents in the USA who were
assigned one terrorist assignment should they receive the code from Russia.
In the meantime, they have no idea they are agents and are living regular
boring American lives thinking that is who they are. Till the code awakened
them. They never were awakened and are forgotten about. Now someone - Donald
Pleasence as a bitter Stalinist - is waking them up one by one. As this might
set off WW III if the Americans find out, Russia sends its best agent to
track down Pleasence and neutralize him. This is the very phlegmatic Charles
Bronson who thankfully does not try to do a Russian accent. In America he
is assigned a deep cover KGB agent played by Lee Remick. A young Tyne Daly
pre-Cagney and Lacey is a genius CIA agent who you think will figure this
out but her character is left out to dry. The chemistry between Bronson and
Remick is like that between a stone wall and a passing car and yet
we are suppose to believe that they fall for one another. A wasted opportunity.
