That Man in Istanbul [Estambul 65] ** (1965, Horst Buchholz, Sylva Koscina, Mario Adorf, Perrette Pradier, Klaus Kinski) – Classic Movie Review 11,696

Director Antonio Isasi’s 1965 English-language European international co-production comedy adventure film That Man in Istanbul is a lively, cheeky Sixties Euro spy romp with Horst Buchholz starring as Tony Mecenas, a man about town, and Sylva Koscina as Agent Kelly, an unlikely FBI operative on the case of a vanished boffin.

The welcome cast of European worthies (Mario Adorf, Perrette Pradier, Klaus Kinski) gives it a boost and director Antonio Isasi keeps it fast and furious, so it is still fairly diverting.

It is also known as Estambul 65 (Spanish), L’Homme d’Istambul French), Operaciôn Estambul, Unser Mann aus Istanbul (Germany) and Colpo Grosso a Galata Bridge (Italian).

Also notable in the cast are Alvaro de Luna, Gustavo Re, Georges Rigaud, Christiane Maybach, Gérard Tichy, Agustin Gonzâlez, Angel Picazo, and Umberto Raho.

The screenplay by Antonio Isasi, Luis Comerôn and Jorge Illa is based on a story by Giovanni Simonelli and Nat Wachsberger.

It was released in the US by Columbia Pictures. The title refers to the 1964 film That Man from Rio.

Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi Lasa (22 March 1927 – 28 September 2017) was a Spanish film director and producer, who directed a series of action films including Scaramouche (The Adventures of Scaramouche) in 1963, That Man in Istanbul in 1965 and most notably They Came to Rob Las Vegas in 1968.

The cast are Horst Buchholz as Tony Mecenas, Sylva Koscina as FBI Agent Kelly, Mario Adorf as Bill, Perrette Pradier as Elisabeth Furst, Ángel Picazo as Inspector Mallouk, Klaus Kinski as Schenck, Gérard Tichy as Charly Cohen, Christiane Maybach as Josette, Álvaro de Luna as Bogo, Gustavo Re as Brain, the Accountant, George Rigaud as CIA Chief, Henri Cogan as Cogan, Agustín González as Gunther, Umberto Raho as Professor Pendergast, Marta Flores as Lady in Limousine, Barta Barri as Captain, Luis Induni as Thug, Manuel Bronchud as Thug, Alberto Dalbés as Thug, Don Maxwell as CIA operative, Claude Cerval as Brandt and Antonio Molino Rojo as picture presenter.

 © Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,696

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