THE NAKED RUNNER
UK, 1967, 102 Minutes, Colour.
Frank Sinatra, Peter Vaughan, Derren Nesbitt, Nadia Gray.
Directed by Sidney J. Furie.
The Naked Runner was one of the anti-espionage films of the late 60s. James Bond and others had made espionage and the spectacular aspects of it quite popular. In the late 60s there was a turn against the glamour of spying, especially with The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Len Deighton's Harry Palmer was another example. John Huston's The Kremlin Letter would be an example of complete pessimism about the world of espionage. This film was not well received at the time and many considered Frank Sinatra wrong in his role. However, with intricate plot, it traces a world of unpleasant espionage and is quite convincing in its impact of the victim, the innocent man drawn into this world. Sidney J. Furie, who directed The Ipcress File, the first of the Harry Palmer films, directed this one in a very flashy late 60s style. Entertaining and interesting because of its theme.
1. The significance of the title for themes?
2. The use of colour and widescreen photography, the European backgrounds and location, the espionage atmosphere of communist countries? Atmosphere and characterisation? The film as an example of 60s espionage films? How did it relate to these in terms of realism and fantasy? How plausible was the plot? The film's emphasis on realism and that such things could happen? The symbolic nature of the ordinary person manipulated by power and secrecy? Comment on the presentation of British Intelligence and control. The setting up of people, the using of people? The elaborate staging of scenes for psychological pressure? The motivation of the use of such power for espionage, for murder?
6. How plausible was the psychology of the film? The use of psychology for gaining power over men? Knowing their weak points and playing on these? The morality of such manipulation of 'naked runners' in society? The use of family love for assassination purposes?
7. The characterisation of Sam Laker? Frank Sinatra in this role? The details of his personality and background, the war, his drifting, marriage, his son and his attachment to him? His agreement to go on the mission? Re-meeting friends of the past, especially the woman in the shop? The greater involvement in espionage despite himself? His fear for his son? His response of fear and then anger? Vengeance? His being manipulated into a hatred to kill?
8. Slattery and his control and manipulation? His surveillance techniques and knowing what was going on? What kind of human being is this controlling person?
9. Colonel Hartmann and the staged pressure on Laker? Playing his part?
10. Comment on the reasons for the selection of the victim? For utilising Laker as the assassin? The political overtones?
11. Audience feeling for Laker in his final desperation and killing?
12. The irony of the finale, the deaths, running through the tunnel to freedom? Slattery and Hartmann at the end?
13. The value of this kind of film as entertainment? As a comment on the morality of the world of espionage?
