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Danger Route
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Wikipedia article
'Danger Route' is a 1967 British spy film directed by Seth Holt for Amicus Productions and starring Richard Johnson as Jonas Wilde, Carol Lynley and Barbara Bouchet.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090114184123/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/30649 BFI.org] It was based on Andrew York's 1966 novel 'The Eliminator' that was the working title of the film.
The film was released in the United States as a double feature with 'Attack on the Iron Coast'.
Plot
Jonas Wilde, a leading British secret agent/assassin, returns home to the Channel Islands from a mission in the Caribbean fearing his nerve has gone, and attempts to resign. He is persuaded by his superior, Tony Canning, to undergo a final mission and assassinate a defector being held by the Americans. Wilde starts a relationship with Jocelyn.
As part of the mission Wilde seduces Rhoda, a housekeeper at the house where the scientist is being kept, in order to access the house. He is captured and interrogated by CIA agent Lucinda who tells Wilde that someone is causing British agents to be killed by mistake.
Wilde escapes and goes looking for Canning, who has disappeared. He teams up with Canning's wife, Barbara, and heads to the base in the Channel Islands.
A fellow agent, Brian Stern, tells him that another member of their unit, Peter Ravenspur, has been murdered. Wilde and Stern then take Ravenspur's niece Mari aboard Stern's boat for questioning.
Stern reveals he is a double agent but is killed by Wilde. Mari, who has been working for Lucinda, is killed accidentally.
Wilde goes back to London and discovers that his girlfriend, Jocelyn, was working for Stern. Wilde kills her.
Canning tells Wilde that he is too valuable to be allowed to resign.
Cast
* Richard Johnson as Jonas Wilde
* Carol Lynley as Jocelyn
* Barbara Bouchet as Marita
* Sylvia Syms as Barbara Canning
* Gordon Jackson as Brian Stern
* Diana Dors as Rhoda Gooderich
* Maurice Denham as Peter Ravenspur
* Sam Wanamaker as Lucinda
* David Bauer as Bennett
* Robin Bailey as Parsons
* Harry Andrews as Tony Canning
* Julian Chagrin as Matsys
* Reg Lye as Balin
* Leslie Sands as Man in Cinema
* Timothy Bateson as Halliwell
Production
The film was an attempt to cash in on the popularity of James Bond movies. It was based on 'The Eliminator', a novel by Andrew York about an assassin, Jonas Wilde, who worked for "The Route", a small government organization based on the island of Jersey. It was published in 1966. The 'Observer' called it "a fast moving spy story".CRIME RATION
Richardson, Maurice. The Observer 18 Sep 1966: 27. "There isn't a human, living character in the book," said 'The Guardian'.Criminal records
Iles, Francis. The Guardian 7 Oct 1966: 13. The 'New York Times' said "the author has narrative viguour and a great deal of ingenuity in small details which is probably enough to outbalance his liberal use of plot cliches."Criminals at Large
By ANTHONY BOUCHER. New York Times 12 Feb 1967: 284. The character appeared in a series of novels.
Film rights were bought by Amicus who in January 1967 announced they would make the movie from a script by Meade Roberts under the direction of Seth Holt. It would be the first of a three picture deal with United Artists.The Rabbi Rises: More About Movie Matters
By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 29 Jan 1967: 91. In February Amicus said Richard Johnson would play the lead.Douglas to Direct 'Shamus'
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 3 Feb 1967: d12. Diana Dors played a support role.
Milton Subotsky of Amicus called the movie doomed, saying the director Seth Holt was ill during filming, the script never worked and the cameraman was replaced in the middle of the shoot. Box office response was poor.Ed. Allan Bryce, 'Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood', Stray Cat Publishing, 2000 p 47-48 Subotsky later said this and 'What Became of Jack and Jill?' were "total failures".
It was shot at Shepperton Studios with sets designed by the art director Don Mingaye.
At one stage the working title was 'People Who Make No Noise Are Dangerous'.In the Picture
Sight and Sound; London Vol. 36, Iss. 2, (Spring 1967): 68.
Holt called the film "dreadful. I scarcely saw it finished. I had a very
difficult schedule. I was waiting between one and another and I needed the bread."
Reception
The 'Monthly Film Bulletin' called it "a tired, and tiring muddle of a film with characters interestingly introduced and then abruptly dropped only to turn up later as though nothing has happened in the meantime."DANGER ROUTE
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 35, Iss. 408, (Jan 1, 1968): 8.
'The Guardian' called it "a reasonably satisfying piece of work".New films
Roud, Richard. The Guardian 17 Nov 1967: 9.
References
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