The Venetian Affair (1967)

Director:

Jerry Thorpe

Writers:

Helen MacInnes (novel)
E. Jack Neuman (writer)

Release Date:

5 July 1967 (France)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Vaughn! Venice! Vooom!

Plot:

Former CIA man, Bill Fenner, now a downbeat, loner journalist, is sent to Venice to investigate the shock suicide bombing by an American diplomat at a peace conference.

Plot Keywords:

Explosion | Secret Agent | Beautiful Woman | Based On Novel

Cast

Robert Vaughn	...	Bill Fenner
Elke Sommer	...	Sandra Fane
Felicia Farr	...	Claire Connor
Karlheinz Böhm	...	Robert Wahl (as Karl Boehm)
Luciana Paluzzi	...	Giulia Almeranti
Boris Karloff	...	Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
Roger C. Carmel	...	Mike Ballard
Edward Asner	...	Frank Rosenfeld
Joe De Santis	...	Jan Aarvan
Fabrizio Mioni	...	Russo
Wesley Lau	...	Neill Carlson
Bill Weiss	...	Goldsmith

Runtime:

89 min | 89 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:(Banned) (1967)

Filming Locations:

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Jerry Thorpe Productions

Quotes:

Frank Rosenfeld: I'm sorry about her. It's a stinkin' business. The job had to get done.
Bill Fenner: Go to hell, Rosie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Italy's in Season (1967)

Soundtrack:

Our Venetian Affair

Atmospheric if somewhat confusing spy film

"The Venetian Affair", based on Helen MacInnes bestseller, is one of the seemingly endless number of James Bond-inspired spy films that flooded cinemas in the mid to late 1960's. Despite a pedestrian script and direction, the film benefits from some great on-location scenery in Venice as well as a talented and eclectic cast. Robert Vaughn plays against type as an alcoholic reporter who is swept into an espionage case with international repercussions. Vaughn delivers the goods with a convincing, world-weary performance that was at odds with his weekly heroics as The Man From UNCLE (despite popular belief, this is not an UNCLE-related film). Karl Boehm is fine as the obligatory charming villain, Roger C. Carmel provides some light moments in the otherwise downbeat script, Boris Karloff has one of his last quality roles, and Thunderball Bond girl Luciana Paluzzi, queen of the '60's spy films, makes a brief but welcome appearance. Only Elke Sommer gums up the works with a typically wooden performance that is little more animated than the stone gargoyles that adorn the ancient Venetian buildings. In summary, an unremarkable, but entertaining film. Rarely seen in recent years, TCM has recently begun telecasting it in a glorious widescreen version. One hopes that a video release will eventually take place.