Crossplot ** (1969, Roger Moore, Martha Hyer, Alexis Kanner, Claudie Lange, Francis Matthews, Bernard Lee) – Classic Movie Review 6,016

The 1969 British film Crossplot is a traditional, mechanical spy thriller starring Roger Moore as a talent scout who hires a young Hungarian woman to pose for modelling shots. But she has overheard an assassination plot and is being hunted by killers.

Director Alvin Rakoff’s moderate and routine 1969 British movie Crossplot is a traditional, mechanical spy thriller starring Roger Moore as Gary Fenn, a successful London ad executive who hires a young Hungarian woman to pose for modelling shots. But she has overheard an assassination plot and is being hunted by killers.

Now Gary Fenn, a talent scout for a London modelling agency, is trying to solve a crossword puzzle clue to stop anarchists killing a visiting statesman in London at his birthday party.

It could have been a script for Moore’s TV show The Saint, an impression enhanced by the familiar British faces and sharing the TV series’s same producer, Robert S Baker. Belgian actress Claudie Lange has her largest English-speaking film role as the Hungarian woman Marla Kugash.

Colourful happenings like a psychedelic disco – or cat!

Traditional it may be, at least for its Sixties period, but Crossplot sure has a preposterous plot. The film is distracting, diverting and busy enough to pass the time, with colourful Swinging Sixties happenings like a psychedelic disco and a helicopter chase.

But the screenplay by Leigh Vance and John Kruse seems to be all computer programmed, especially their jokes. If you watch it at Christmas, you will no doubt notice the same jokes in your cracker. However, Moore is suave, smooth and likeable, as always, and that familiar British supporting cast helps too.

Also in the cast are Martha Hyer, Alexis Kanner, Claudie Lange, Francis Matthews, Bernard Lee, Derek Francis, Ursula Howells, Dudley Sutton, Veronica Carlson, Tim Preece, Mona Bruce, Norman Eshley, Michael Culver, Gabrielle Drake, and John Lee.

It is Moore’s first top-billed cinema starring role.

Bernard Lee was of course M in Moore’s Bond movies – eg The Spy Who Loved Me.

Alexis Kanner and Gabrielle Drake both star in the 1970 Bette Davis film Connecting Rooms.

Crossplot film poster.

Crossplot is directed by Alvin Rakoff, runs 96 minutes, is made by Television Reporters and International Tribune Productions, is distributed by United Artists, is written by Leigh Vance and John Kruse, is shot by Brendan J Stafford, is produced by Robert S. Baker, and is scored by Stanley Black.

Release date: 25 November 1969.

The cast are Roger Moore as Gary Fenn, Claudie Lange as Marla Kugash, Martha Hyer as Jo Grinling, Alexis Kanner as Tarquin, Derek Francis as Sir Charles Moberley, Ursula Howells as Maggi Thwaites, Bernard Lee as Chilmore, Francis Matthews as Ruddock, Dudley Sutton as Warren, Mona Bruce as Myrna, Veronica Carlson as Dinah, Michael Culver as Jim, Gabrielle Drake as Celia, Tim Preece as Sebastian, Norman Eshley as Athol, Michael Robbins as Garage Attendant, John Barrard as Wedding Guest, David Prowse as Best man, Les Conrad as Tugboat Captain, and Derek Benfield as Man in Café.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6,016

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com