Adventure
War
Action
A safecracker turns double agent during WWII.
Directors
Christopher Plummer
Freddie Chapman
Romy Schneider
Helga Lindstrom (The Countess)
Trevor Howard
Freddie Young (Distinguished Civilian)
Gert Fröbe
Colonel Steinhager
Claudine Auger
Paulette
Yul Brynner
Baron von Grunen
Harry Meyen
Lieutenant Keller
Jess Hahn
Commander Braid
John Abbey
Lang
Gil Barber
Bergman
Jean-Claude Bercq
Major Von Leeb
Paul Bonifas
Charlie
Jean-Roger Caussimon
Luftwaffe General (as Jean Rene Caussimon)
Annette Claudier
Prison Clerk
Jean Claudio
Sergeant Thomas
Pierre Collet
German Warder
Anthony Dawson
Major Stillman
Directors
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User reviews2
Review
Featured review
**_James Bond lite during WW2_**
When the Germans occupy the island of Jersey where a glib Brit safecracker is incarcerated (Christopher Plummer), they enlist him as an agent because of his shrewdness and lack of loyalty. After being tested by his handler in France (Yul Brynner), he becomes their top spy, assigned the mission of blowing up an aircraft factory in England. But what happens if MI5 enlists him as a double agent?
“Triple Cross” (1966) is loosely based on the true-story of Eddie Chapman, who was to be the technical advisor, but French authorities wouldn’t let him in the country due to his alleged involvement in a plot to kidnap the Sultan of Morocco. Director Terence Young knew Chapman before the war, as a roommate, and also spent time with him on his first mission in Britain, which was set up by MI5 because the spy needed cheering up as he was training for his return to occupied Europe.
I call it “James Bond lite” because Terence Young directed three of the early 007 movies with Sean Connery before helming this one, and three iconic Bond actors are featured in the cast: Gert Fröbe played the titular character in “Goldfinger,” Claudine Auger played Domino in “Thunderball” and Francis De Wolff played Valva in “From Russia with Love.”
This is a good movie if you’re in the mood for the décor and intrigues of WW2 minus the battles, similar to “The Night of the Generals,” which came out the next year. A youthful Plummer is surprisingly good as the nonchalant protagonist and I like how the July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler is included in the last act (Cruise’s “Valkyrie” was based on that event). It’s along the lines of "The Heroes of Telemark" from the prior year, just not as good IMHO. The great “Where Eagles Dare” came out two years later.
It’s a little overlong at about 2 hours, 15-20 minutes (although there’s also a 126-minute American version); and was shot in France with some stuff done in England.
GRADE: B-/C+
Wuchak11 Sep, 2024
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