THE ENDLESS GAME
UK, 1989, 117 minutes, Colour.
Albert Finney, George Segal, Kristin Scott Thomas, Derek de Lint, Ian Holm, Anthony Quayle, Michael Medwin, Nanette Newman, Monica Guerritore.
Directed by Bryan Forbes.
The Endless Game was screened on television only a few months before the Berlin Wall came down. This was an unexpected event in late 1989, most people thinking that the Cold War would continue for many years. Which means that this film, shown over two nights on television, was soon out of date, so to speak.
However, the action and themes and characters resemble those of the espionage world of John Le Carre. The film is based on the first novel in a trilogy of spy stories by writer-film director, Bryan Forbes.
The film opens with a mysterious murder of an old, demented woman in a nursing home. The audience is able to see who the murderer is, played by George Segal. However, there is a surprise twist towards the end of the film in the audience realising who he is and what role he has played during the Cold War. At the centre of the film is Albert Finney as a familiar kind of British spy, with a cover as a wine merchant in London, married (and his wife is played by Forbes’ real-life wife, Nanette Newman, who appeared in most of his films). But, he has had an affair in Europe with a fellow-spy, played by Kristin Scott Thomas in an early role. She is the woman who was murdered at the opening of the film.
There are a number of vintage British supporting actors in the film, including Anthony Quayle as a double agent, Ian Holm as Control, Michael Medwin as a government minister.
The film also has an international cast led by Derek de Lint as a Russian officer in charge of bringing over Albert Finney who was commissioned by Control to go back out into the cold, to seemingly defect to Russia, in order to find out who is the murderer and who has been a source of espionage links.
In retrospect, this might not seem as powerful as the film versions of the Le Carre novels, but, in taking us back into this Cold War World, it has interest and entertainment value.
1. British espionage? British offices? During the Cold War?
2. The 1960s to the 1980s in Europe, Eastern Europe, in Berlin? The film released months before the coming down of the Berlin Wall? The atmosphere of John Le Carre’s stories, Len Dighton?
3. An international production, made for television, the visual style for television? The strong cast? Bryan Forbes as writer and director?
4. The opening, the focus on the home for the elderly, the old woman looking a wreck, her illness, the doctor, his disguise, inserting the syringe? Leaving the home, going to the public toilet, removing his disguise? His being observed? The prostitute, in the flat, her behaviour, his killing her? On the plane, going to Europe, having taken the photo, bringing it to the minders, the execution of the man in the water as a demonstration?
5. The spy and his lover, their plans? Her relationship with Belfrage and his political status, later at the Brother of Mercy home, the attempt to seduce Hillsden? The final photo with the Minister – and his becoming prime minister?
6. Albert Finney is Hillsden, his relationship with his wife, the long marriage, his espionage, his cover as a wine merchant, having to leave the party, going to the offices, the discussion about the situation, the death of Caroline, the memories, her contacts, the interrogation and her debriefing, the effect on her, her death? The minister and the impact of her having his photo?
7. The effect on Hillsden, the flashbacks, in love with Caroline, their work together, the travel, the Verboten room and the ugliness of the flies, later used for her interrogation? Hillsden and his not wanting to visit her, not able to face it?
8. The suspects, the various members of the office and the search for the killer? His going down to interview Glanville, Glanville as a double agent, his work in the past, double agent and interrogation, knowing Caroline, the interconnections with the Americans, with Jock? The news that he was murdered?
9. Control? Interviewing Hillsden, the mystery, the need for information, the leaks? Control and his suggesting Hillsden go into the cold, disappear, go to the Brothers of Mercy, on the beach, the Italian spy, the interactions, his being taken, the interrogations? The newspaper headlines, the information about his being a traitor, murdering the prostitute?
10. In Russia, Abramov, the Russian officer, interrogating Hillsden, the discipline, the information, the friendship, improving conditions?
11. Jock resurfacing, the irony of the audience knowing who he was, what he had done? The stories of the past? With Hillsden? With Caroline? The information, the friendship with Hillsden, sharing? The episode with the prostitutes, Jock killing the girl? Hillsden’s reaction?
12. Jock, his mentioning of the clock in Caroline’s room, his explanations, Hillsden’s reaction, smothering him?
13. The irony of the ending, the nature of spying as an endless game, the British, the Minister becoming Prime Minister the whole story of his recovery the photo and covering his role as a leak?
