I had never heard of Montgomery Tully when I saw his name come up as director in the starting credits. He has impressed me with this outing, both by having a hand in the riveting screenplay and mainly by extracting high standard performances from his actor ensemble, in particular June Thorburn, Paul Skelton, and Jack Watson. Stephen Murray, the main lead, does well enough but something is lost in his continual attempt to present a Polish/Russian accent.
Cinematography by Geoffrey Faithfull is excellent, with a truly wonderful chess game introduction, serving as backup to the chess mastery relation that develops between master spies Murray and Skelton.
The scene where Thorburn recognizes the file that Murray has removed from the cupboard, and Skelton decides to poison her is sheer textbook stuff in terms of credibility, direction and acting.
At an economical 68', this is arresting viewing and a Cold War time capsule, months after US President JF Kennedy was assassinated, and about 18 months after Cuba's Bay of Pigs incident, with the world split between US and USSR influence.
Intelligent, exciting, literate dialogue. Recommended viewing.