The Liquidator (1965)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Jack Cardiff

Writers:

John Gardner (novel)
Peter Yeldham (written by)

Release Date:

28 October 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Crime | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Right between the eyes is where it hits you . . . Boysie Oakes is DEADLIER than the most dangerous spy !

Plot:

Colonel Mostyn is the chief of a section of the British Security Services when they are embarrassed by the number of spies and defections...

Plot Keywords:

Agent | Spy | England | Playboy | Hitman

Cast

Rod Taylor	...	Boysie Oakes
Trevor Howard	...	Mostyn
Jill St. John	...	Iris
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Chief (as Wilfrid Hyde White)
David Tomlinson	...	Quadrant
Akim Tamiroff	...	Sheriek
Eric Sykes	...	Griffen
Gabriella Licudi	...	Corale
John Le Mesurier	...	Chekhov
Derek Nimmo	...	Fly
Jeremy Lloyd	...	Young Man
Jennifer Jayne	...	Janice Benedict
Heller Toren	...	Assistant
Betty McDowall	...	Frances Anne
Jo Rowbottom	...	Betty

Runtime:

USA:105 min | Argentina:105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Edgwarebury Hotel, Barnet Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Based on the first of the 'Boysie Oakes' novels by John Gardner, published in 1964. There were seven more: Understrike (1965), Amber Nine (1966), Madrigal (1968) Founder Member (1969), The Airline Pirates (1970), Traitor's Exit (1970) and Killer for a Song (1975). After that Gardner took over writing the James Bond series from the late Ian Fleming.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Boysie and Iris leave the Colonel's empty office she turns off the lights, but as we see them exit from the other side the room is not dark.

Quotes:

'Boysie' Oakes: Flesh and blood can only stand so much!

Soundtrack:

THE LIQUIDATOR

One of the Funniest Cold War Fare from the 1960's

One reviewer here wrote that this film was a poor excursion for the lead actor, Rod Taylor. I do honestly believe it to be one of his best comedy outings in his career. True, the film does lag a bit about two thirds of the way through, but its premise is solid.

One simply has to regard the film in the light of the the times it represents; which is the social environment of the late 1940's to the mid 1970's when the Cold War eventually ended. And one has to have some sense of how the Cold War era was, in itself, an exercise in the futility of bringing a major war to an end on a slow boil.

Therefore, I regard such claims as it not being humorous, or a lame attempt at such, being the inability of someone too young to have experienced the times.

Keep in mind that my generation (born in 1939) participated in 'take-cover' drills in our elementary classrooms, as serious protection from a nuclear bomb blast.

When given the signal, we kids were instructed to dive under our classroom desks, and to cover our heads with our hands until the all clear was given.

In reality, if the bomb was indeed dropped anywhere nearby, all 'take -cover would have accomplished was to yield - all gone! Yes, it was taken seriously by just about everyone.

Knowing this, it is easily understood why actual spy agencies on our side, and behind the Iron Curtain countries actually generated such extremes as history reveals of this era - as serious exercises.

Knowing this, simply sit back, relax your serious muscles, expose your humor muscles and enjoy this delightful film in the vein it was intended.