INTRIGUE
US, 1990, 96 minutes, Colour.
Scott Glenn, Robert Loggia, William Atherton, Martin Shaw, Cheri Lunghi, Eleanor Bron.
Directed by David Drury.
Intrigue is quite an intriguing telemovie, along the lines of Robert Ludlum and other writers about international espionage. The film was directed by David Drury, who directed the excellent Defence of the Realm. There is a strong international cast led by Scott Glenn with Robert Loggia excellent as the spy wanting to return back to the United States. William Atherton is an American official, Eleanor Bron is a contact in Yugoslavia, Cherie Lunghi is the Italian contact.
Exotic European settings, double-dealings in Russian and American espionage.
1. Interesting and entertaining spy story? Portrait of a spy, mission? Soviet- United States relationships in the atmosphere of Glasnost?
2. European locations: Belgium, Yugoslavia, Italy? The use of locations for atmosphere? Special effects and stunt work? Musical score?
3. The title, its focus, on the United States, on the Soviet Union. Double dealings, deceptions?
4. Crawford as the central character: Scott Glenn's presence and style? The credits and the baseball, the attack on Crawford, his quick thinking in going to the hospital? Contact with Docker? The job, the delegation in Brussels and the NATO background? The commission to Buzzer back to the U.S?'. The flashbacks to his friendship with Buzzer, the betrayal? The arrangement of n his cover with the opera? Going to Yugoslavia, the suspicions at the airport, going to the opera house, this techniques for changing uniform, contact with Buzzer, getting him out of the building, away? The hazards of the plan, disguises, contact with Sophia and her hatred for Buzzer, her helping? Going across the border, disguised as workmen? The dangers of the drive, changing vehicles? Across the border and its tension into Italy? The contact with Adriana? Her help? The contact, the change of plan? His puzzle? The deal with Igby, reminiscing about the past, trying to understand? Buzzer's death? The irony of his expose of the American official? The apprehension of the official? Crawford's return, the quiet life, the credit given to others? Portrait of a spy?
5. Buzzer Igby, his being a mentor to those in training for undercover? His decision to go over to the Soviet Union, ten years? Betrayal of his friends? The animosity of Sophia? Crawford's unwillingness to go? Buzzer in Yugoslavia, techniques of contact, the escape, his rough manner, aggravating Sophia? His boots, the trip across the border, through the countryside? His illness? Wanting to get back to America? The change of plan in Italy? Discussions with Crawford, the discovery of what he knew? Eluding the pursuers? Helping Crawford? His death?
6. Docker and control in Brussels, the high-placed officials, orders? Transmitting orders? Hesitating in plans%' Docker's apology for lack of control?
7. Sophia, the contact, the ring in the past, antagonism towards Buzzer, following orders? Adriana and the contact in Venice, her. place in high society, relationship with Crawford?
8. The officials, NATO plans, Soviet infiltration? The expose?
9. The plausibility of the plot? Insight into the C.I.A., American officialdom, the Soviet Union?
