The British send an American and a war hero to kidnap and hide an oil-country prince.The British send an American and a war hero to kidnap and hide an oil-country prince.The British send an American and a war hero to kidnap and hide an oil-country prince.
Ernest Blyth
- Army Officer
- (uncredited)
Roger Delgado
- Ahmed Ben FaÃfffÃf'Ã'¯d
- (uncredited)
Norman Fisher
- Bishop
- (uncredited)
James Mossman
- Self
- (uncredited)
David Nettheim
- Photographer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film was originally planned as a vehicle for Rex Harrison. After some false starts, it was eventually decided that Jack Hawkins should have an American co-star to play the role of "Fraser"; this necessitated extensive script re-writing. Cliff Robertson agreed to play the part, but insisted on an American writer to do the rewrite. He called in the novelist William Goldman, whom he had previously hired to write a film script based on the science-fiction novel "Flowers For Algernon", by Daniel Keyes. Goldman got his first film writing credit on "Masquerade", but when Robertson finally got to make the "Flowers For Algernon" film (renamed "Charly", in 1968), another screenplay, by Stirling Silliphant, was used.
- GoofsAs Frazer is being taken to Madrid, their Rolls Royce is forced off the road by the "smugglers". When the driver of the Rolls climbs from the wrecked car he draws his gun, but one of the criminals throws a knife & kills him. Instead of a fake knife throw, the actor actually throws the knife, but he throws high over the driver's head. The driver reacts out of fear by ducking his head forward. Then as the scene cuts, the knife is in the driver's chest & his head is leaning back.
- Quotes
Prince Jamil: [showing the book he's been reading - "Goldfinger" by Ian Fleming] Rather far-fetched, wouldn't you say?
Featured review
"Life Is A Masquerade, In Which A Hundred Different Parts Are Played. You Play The Hero Or A Fool, There Is No Golden Rule, It's Just A Masquerade..."
I love this film. It was sold as yet another Bond-spoof (like Bond NEEDED spoofing) but was so much more.
In addition to more location work than was usual at the time, it boasted a roster of stars that was incredible.
Cliff Robertson was young then and had STYLE, Marisa Mell was all leggy and gorgeous, Jack Hawkins was in his element, Michel Piccoli was bizarrely menacing, Bill Fraser was normally associated with British sitcoms, but excelled here in a dramatic role. Then you had British stalwarts Charles Gray, John Le Mesurier, Felix Aylmer and Ernest Clark, all topped off with Tutte Lemkow.
Philip Green's music was fantastic and Basil Dearden's direction quirky and atmospheric.
The film takes a whole reel to lift off, but when it does, it's a classic.
But since seeing it at the cinema and couple of times on the telly in the Seventies, this minor epic has VANISHED. And to add salt to the wound, there are other, LESSER films with the same title (which is annoying if your satellite listings magazine only lists films' TITLES).
So where the hell IS IT??? I can find no trace of a DVD - or even a VHS. There is scant mention of it anywhere and even THIS esteemed service has little additional info.
Is it a "lost film"? Anyone?
In addition to more location work than was usual at the time, it boasted a roster of stars that was incredible.
Cliff Robertson was young then and had STYLE, Marisa Mell was all leggy and gorgeous, Jack Hawkins was in his element, Michel Piccoli was bizarrely menacing, Bill Fraser was normally associated with British sitcoms, but excelled here in a dramatic role. Then you had British stalwarts Charles Gray, John Le Mesurier, Felix Aylmer and Ernest Clark, all topped off with Tutte Lemkow.
Philip Green's music was fantastic and Basil Dearden's direction quirky and atmospheric.
The film takes a whole reel to lift off, but when it does, it's a classic.
But since seeing it at the cinema and couple of times on the telly in the Seventies, this minor epic has VANISHED. And to add salt to the wound, there are other, LESSER films with the same title (which is annoying if your satellite listings magazine only lists films' TITLES).
So where the hell IS IT??? I can find no trace of a DVD - or even a VHS. There is scant mention of it anywhere and even THIS esteemed service has little additional info.
Is it a "lost film"? Anyone?
helpful•161
- morpheusatloppers
- Jun 23, 2009
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Agenten lassen bitten
- Filming locations
- Villajoyosa, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain(Casco Antiguo)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Sound mix
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