One of the first films from Bryan Forbes' brief regime at EMI Films (It's released as an associated British film). It's not a bad thriller, with energetic direction from John Hough - he throws in a few bells and whistles which was criticised by some reviewers at the time but I think work, particularly a very energetic car chase at the end.
It has flaws though. It's the boy who cried wolf story - Mark Lester as a kid who is always making up stories then witnesses an assassination. That structure works (eg The Window) - but here the assassination takes place up front, everyone sees it... so the adults look really stupid not listening to him.
Maybe this is why the film made what I think is a second key mistake - removing Lester from a lot of the action. The focus becomes about his sister, Susan George, new boyfriend Tony Bonner and grandfather Lionel Jeffries. They take over the get sidelined.
I also wish the film had been set in a real country instead of a fictitious place. I bought that in 1930s films but struggle in 1970 ones for whatever reason. I'm guessing it was because it was shot in Malta and they didn't want to upset the locals because the baddies are corrupt.
In its heart this wants to be an action film more than a thriller. There's one too many heroes - for a moment I thought maybe Bonner and Jeffries are bad which would have been a great twist but no... they're heroic. I liked the red herring nasty housekeeper but it could have done with another twist or two. Bonner really should have been bad... though I did love how his name was Tom and George was called Pippa so the whole thing is a Home and Away prequel.
George is lovely, Jeffries is fun, Lester is okay but I wish his part had been bigger. Location filming on Malta offers novelty.
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