HIDE AND SEEK

UK, 1963, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Ian Carmichael, Janette Munro, Curt Jurgens.
Directed by Cy Endfield.

Hide and Seel is an average espionage drama of 1960. It has a light touch but basically it is quite serious. Ian Carmichael, better known for comedy, is a strange choice as the lead in this film. Curt Jurgens is much more suited as the villain. Interesting but average entertainment.

1. The meaning of the title, the overtones of games? Indication of themes for espionage film?

2. The impact of the film on audiences, special, average? Why?

3. How good a spy film? The variety of touch, the serious touch and its implication, the light touch for laughs and irony, satire? Which predominated?

4. The atmosphere of the sixties? London, England, espionage? The ordinary way of life and espionage undertones? The blend of fantasy and realism?

5. The game structure of the film? The manoeuvres and the continuing audience interest and suspense?

6. David as hero? Ian Carmichael’s style, the background of his work, chess? His ability of following the leads? The plausibility of the events? What kind of person in himself? The ordinary man become hero? What changed him and challenged him? Was he a convincing character?

7. The girl scatty, covering up the spy background, using David, changing? More than just a spy heroine?

8. How plausible was the villain? His plans and the execution of the plans?

9. The impact of particular incidents for communicating themes, the chess games, London, the train, the barge and the bargee, the post offices the false death?

10. How skilfully made was the film? Its values?