The Whistle Blower *** (1986, Michael Caine, James Fox, Nigel Havers, John Gielgud, Felicity Dean, Barry Foster) – Classic Movie Review 5532

Director Simon Langton’s 1986 British thriller The Whistle Blower tells a reasonably engrossing, old-fashioned spy story. It is notable as the only major theatrical feature film featuring the British Intelligence agency GCHQ and for its location shooting.

It is led by the satisfying performances from Michael Caine as retired British Navy officer Frank Jones and Nigel Havers as his GCHQ Russian translator son Bob, whose murder he finds himself having to investigate.

Julian Bond adapts John Hale’s 1984 novel and comes up with a literate, earnest, complex screenplay that is another of the film’s assets. Yet another is the strong star support of James Fox (as Lord), John Gielgud (Sir Adrian Chapple), Felicity Dean, Barry Foster, Gordon Jackson, Kenneth Colley and David Langton.

Somehow, though, perhaps the movie doesn’t quite stir the blood as the best espionage thrillers should, but it still remains a decent, conscientious British Cold War paranoia thriller.

Also in the cast are Dinah Stabb, James Simmons, Katherine Reeve, Bill Wallis, Trevor Cooper, Peter Miles, Susan Porrett, Patrick Holt and Andy Bradford.

GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) is the real-life British intelligence agency providing information assurance and signals intelligence to the British government and armed forces. Much of the film is shot in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where the GCHQ is situated.

The Whistle Blower is directed in his only feature film by Simon Langton, who is the son of actor David Langton, whose final feature film this was, playing a Government Minister. It is also the final feature of Gordon Jackson.

Simon Langton was a busy TV director from 1970 to 2011, notably including the six episodes of the TV mini series Pride and Prejudice (1995).

It is one of five movies Caine has made with producer Geoffrey Reeve, also including Half Moon Street (1986), Shadow Run (1998), Shiner (2000), and Quicksand (2003).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5532

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