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Thriller directed by Anthony Mann. Laurence Harvey stars as Eberlin, a Russian spy and double-agent, homesick and pining for the Russian steppes. It is in this risky mood that Eberlin falls in love with the emaciated Caroline (Mia Farrow). Complications arise when he is directed to kill a Russian spy - but the Russian spy happens to be himself.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), French ( Mono ), German ( Mono ), Italian ( Mono ), Spanish ( Mono ), Arabic ( Subtitles ), Danish ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), French ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Hindi ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Portuguese ( Subtitles ), Romanian ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), Turkish ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Director Anthony Mann's final film (Mann died during the filming, and the production was completed by the film's star, Laurence Harvey) is a kitchen-sink espionage drama with Harvey as Eberlin, a Russian spy and double-agent, homesick and pining for the Russian steppes. It is in this risky mood that Eberlin falls in love with the emaciated Caroline (Mia Farrow). Complications arise when he is directed to kill a Russian spy -- but the Russian spy happens to be himself. ...A Dandy in Aspic
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A rarely seen film from the Sixties, when every other film was about spies, A Dandy In Aspic gets a surprising though not undeserved DVD release, looking very good but totally devoid of extras.
As an espionage caper, this one falls somewhere in between the fantasy world of Ian Fleming and the gritty reality of John Le Carre. The central character is a Russian double agent and occasional assassin who has had enough and wants to go home - just as British Intelligence seem to be on the brink of uncovering him. Of course, the Russians don't really want him back - he's too valuable where he is. At least, so they keep saying. But it's hard to see why. He seems rather amateurish and everyone appears to suspect him. Still, the thing about Sixties spy movies is that they didn't necessarily have to make sense, and this one seldom does. But it has a nice style and some interesting performances from an eclectic cast.
In the lead role, Laurence Harvey draws on his Baltic background to conviningly show both sides of his two-faced character - English dandy and Russian agent. A very under-rated actor, he holds the film together with his cool underplaying and world-weary expressions. Tom Courtenay plays a ruthless British agent in much the same way as he played Strelnikov in Dr Zhivago a few years earlier. Swedish actor Per Oscarson drops by for a nicely realised cameo and dependable character actors such as Harry Andrews and John Bird put in their usual solid performances. The one member of the cast who seems to be genuinely enjoying himself is Lionel Stander who easily steals every scene he's in as a Russian spy chief with a twisted sense of humour. To provide the obligatory love interest, Mia Farrow plays an English photographer who doesn't know how to hold a camera let alone use one.... Read more ›
As an espionage caper, this one falls somewhere in between the fantasy world of Ian Fleming and the gritty reality of John Le Carre. The central character is a Russian double agent and occasional assassin who has had enough and wants to go home - just as British Intelligence seem to be on the brink of uncovering him. Of course, the Russians don't really want him back - he's too valuable where he is. At least, so they keep saying. But it's hard to see why. He seems rather amateurish and everyone appears to suspect him. Still, the thing about Sixties spy movies is that they didn't necessarily have to make sense, and this one seldom does. But it has a nice style and some interesting performances from an eclectic cast.
In the lead role, Laurence Harvey draws on his Baltic background to conviningly show both sides of his two-faced character - English dandy and Russian agent. A very under-rated actor, he holds the film together with his cool underplaying and world-weary expressions. Tom Courtenay plays a ruthless British agent in much the same way as he played Strelnikov in Dr Zhivago a few years earlier. Swedish actor Per Oscarson drops by for a nicely realised cameo and dependable character actors such as Harry Andrews and John Bird put in their usual solid performances. The one member of the cast who seems to be genuinely enjoying himself is Lionel Stander who easily steals every scene he's in as a Russian spy chief with a twisted sense of humour. To provide the obligatory love interest, Mia Farrow plays an English photographer who doesn't know how to hold a camera let alone use one.... Read more ›
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of those films that is remembered simply as a footnote to its director's career, it's hard to tell if A Dandy in Aspic would have been much better had Anthony Mann not died during shooting in West Germany. On a purely visual level it's evident that he shot most of the picture, not least because star Laurence Harvey, who finished the film, doesn't hide his love of crash zooms or seem to make much effort to match Mann's style. Certainly scenes like the shooting range sequence, a hotel room conversation shown via twin mirrors or the many shots featuring Mann's favorite Scope setup of a character hiding in close-up in one third of the screen while another approaches in the extreme distance in the rest of the frame have the original director's fingerprints all over them. If anything, the film's biggest problems seem to have happened before and after shooting: Derek Marlowe's script seems a rewrite or two away from ready and it's hard to believe that Mann would have gone along with some of the more extreme post-production decisions, from the echoplex dialogue effects in moments of stress to some of the more ill-judged parts of Quincy Jones' generally quite good score.
On paper the slightly schizoid directorial approach should be quite appropriate for this low-key spy thriller variation on The Big Clock where Harvey's undercover Russian spy is ordered by MI5 to track down and kill... himself, and perhaps to a non-fan of Mann's work it wouldn't be quite so distracting. Yet even away from the visuals and some occasionally inconsistent performances, the film has plenty of flaws that can be traced to both the screenplay and casting.... Read more ›
On paper the slightly schizoid directorial approach should be quite appropriate for this low-key spy thriller variation on The Big Clock where Harvey's undercover Russian spy is ordered by MI5 to track down and kill... himself, and perhaps to a non-fan of Mann's work it wouldn't be quite so distracting. Yet even away from the visuals and some occasionally inconsistent performances, the film has plenty of flaws that can be traced to both the screenplay and casting.... Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By W. Davidson
Format:DVD
So much of the '60s spy genre is campy, and I love that, but this is an exception. If for no other reason to recommend this film, the art direction and cinematography is outstanding with well-considered shot after shot getting the most out of the impressive locations. The colour of the film jumped out at me too, not the expected '60s Eastman colours, but more of a Douglas Sirk '50s kind of style. But, there's more. Not wanting to give too much away, the lead character is a dislikable creation who only grows on you a little as the film progresses, but is fascinating to watch throughout; he reminded me of Jason King with all traces of campery banished. Mia Farrow is a complete delight every moment she appears on screen, and there's an impressive cast of actors you will recognise from, well, everything, popping up, most of them I didn't know by name but knew by sight. Peter Cook's performance is effectievly the comic relief, however he plays it the right side of funny to blend in with the general seriousness of the proceedings and gives his role depth when called for. Richard O'Sullivan (Man About the House) even appears in a small role as the (implied gay) best friend to Mia Farrow's character. Most enjoyable for anyone who appreciates '60s Spy cinema, and after watching this I even more so wish there was a way I could visit late '60s London and Berlin!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Mc De Jong
Format:DVD
Well, it is true I had high expectations of this movie, but I could never have believed to be this impressed. Anybody interested in watching a really good British spy thriller from the sixties should be recommended "A Dandy in Aspic" (1968) by Anthony Mann, starring Laurence Harvey, Tom Courtenay, Mia Farrow, Harry Andrews, Lionel Stander, and many others. When I read the plot synopsis in advance, I thought it would be too complicated to be watchable. I realized convoluted plots are inherent to the genre, but this seemed to be pushing it too far. Not so, or rather it does, but it is so well directed, with such a nice flow to the events that it just doesn't show. The sequence of events is so elegant and transparent that the understanding of the viewer is never hampered. And on the way, we get lovely views of London and West-Berlin. This time it is clear that no studio shots were used (which is also mentioned in the final credits). "A Dandy in Aspic" is British is the proper sense: it does have the agreeable sides (European sightseeing, men in bowler hats and umbrellas, posh British accents with matching insufferable attitudes), but lacks the drawbacks (no cheapish décor, no overtly hostile view of the Russians - after all, we are to sympathize with a double agent). Other positive elements: Mia Farrow as an adorable sixties style icon (though relevant to the story), cleverly constructed dialogue with lots of witty puns and repartee elements (innumerous examples), good use of music (cheerfully contemporary, but ominous whenever needed), the intro with the puppet on a string getting entangled in the end (great symbolism), the denouement and the final scene attached to it.... Read more ›
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3.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hugely entertaining cold war thriller
This film captures the claustrophobia of the era and the cold war. It's a good film, with varied locations, and a number of unexpected actors popping up here and there. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Robin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gritty and compelling
I saw this one back in the day. It is a good example of the genre of UK thrillers of the era. One could be high-browed and and talk about the nuances of the storyline and the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bob A
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Dandy in What?? Aspic??
I confess. I needed to check Aspic in the dic., and I still don't really get the title. Anyway - what a pleasant surprise awaited my wife and I as we sat down with our lovely... Read more
Published on 18 May 2011 by A. W. Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mann's final film: a bleak look at espionage
In this cold war thriller, a Russian double agent (Laurence Harvey) working for British intelligence is tired of the spy game and desires to return to the Soviet Union but his... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2011 by The CinemaScope Cat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly fresh...
I wasn't expecting much from this film. I acquired it hard on the heels of reading a biography of Peter Cook which made mention of it. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2010 by Julie D
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Favourite spy-movie
There's intensity, there's suspens, a very gripping story beautifully filmed. Probably, a film cannot be bad if there's Laurence Harvey in it .
Published on 1 Oct 2009 by Galdos del Carpio
5.0 out of 5 stars
Avus Berlin
I bought the film as a motor racing enthusiast, purely to see the footage of the daunting Avus banked turn which claimed the life of Jean Behra. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2009 by J. Moore
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stylish in Berlin.
Other reviews highlight the minor shortcomings of this film,which are the main characters implausible role,and the resultant lack of real tension created. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2008 by P. HEATH
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