Where the Spies Are (1965) User Reviews

never takes off

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 19 February 2022]

A foreign power is taking out British Intelligence. Another agent gets murdered in Lebanon and the service is forced to recruit doctor Jason Love (David Niven). He worked for the service during the war. He is assured that it's a safe and easy job. It's not. He pretends to be attending a medical convention. At the Paris airport, he encounters his contact, beautiful model Vikki. He misses his flight which explodes in mid-air.

This is neither funny nor thrilling. It's trying to be a fun spy action flick. He is definitely no Bond. There is a few attempts at humor but they mostly fall flat. This is not the gritty realistic type but it's also not that fun. It's stuck in the muddy middle. Even the exotic locations don't feel that exotic. This is the start of a franchise which never took off.

Good, early spy yarn put to film

[gregerfinkelly · 7/10 · 21 February 2022]

David Niven is well cast and plays a fine neophyte operative. The film lacks a steady dose of suspense, however. On a more mundane plane, there are varied misspellings of Russian, most obvious being the Russian for Aeroflot emblazoned across the jetliner (Niven's robe has it spelled correctly).

A Fairly Good Spy Movie

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 3 December 2014]

When one of their agents is killed the British intelligence agency known as MI6 is suddenly confronted with a huge manpower shortage in Lebanon. This results in their contacting a person who served with them during World War 2 as a combat physician by the name of "Dr. Jason Love" (David Niven). But in order to recruit him for this special assignment they have to offer him something that is very rare-a 1937 Chrysler LeBaron. He eagerly accepts and heads off to Rome where he meets an attractive secret agent at the airport by the name of "Vikki" (Françoise Dorléac). Wanting to spend a little time with her he reschedules his flight to Beirut. He then watches in horror as the flight he was supposed to be on explodes in mid-air and realizes that this assignment may not be as simple as he was led to believe. At any rate, rather than reveal any more of the film and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a fairly good spy movie for the most part. Although it slightly resembled a "James Bond" film it was a bit more light-hearted in comparison and wasn't quite as polished. Even so it was still somewhat enjoyable and having an actress as beautiful as the aforementioned Francoise Dorléac certainly didn't hurt in any way. Slightly above average.

undemanding light 60's vintage spy romp

[davidh-15 · 19 June 2003]

Accurate in many respects as regards spycraft and the extensive MI6 registry card indices. Also that arabic scenario - set in Beirut which is where Kim Philby escaped to Russia.

David Niven plays a reluctantly doctor persuaded to spy in exchange for a '37 Chrysler LeBaron to replace his 1937 Cord Phaeton.

They even had a dig at the, then, new James Bond: Niven; "I hope you realise I'm not a superspy or an agent in black"; LeMesurier:"well that kind of exhibitionism always ends in disaster". The accurate view of MI6!

Notable for a poignant appearance of the beautiful but doomed Francoise D'Orleac.

The plot is undemanding: Who do I trust? is the pretty girl who seduced me a double agent? The baddies attempt to assassinate the friendly head of an oil state but it all goes wrong for them. can Niven escape the baddies? affable enough but not a masterpiece.

A bit like a Harry Palmer spy film.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 20 February 2022]

Dr. Jason Love (David Niven) is simply a doctor...nothing more. During WWII, he worked with British Intelligence and because of this connection, he's recruited by MI6 for one teensy, weensy assignment. Not surprisingly, though (after all it is a movie), this easy assignment turns out to be anything but...and Love is pulled into an assassination attempt in Beirut! Along the way, there are exploding airliners, murders, gun fights and more.

In many ways, this reminds me of some of the Harry Palmer spy films (starring Michael Caine), as the spies in the film are nothing like the folks in a James Bond film! No, they are more ordinary looking folks...and so Dr. Love fits right in! Overall, quite enjoyable though the relationship Love has with the double agent never really made a lot of sense.

Shhhh Top Secret Spy v Spy

[shoretalk · 7/10 · 20 February 2023]

This was a fun escape back to the 1960s and the film genre. David Niven always makes a film a few stars brighter than it might have been without him.

I couldn't help but remember the old Mad magazine spy versus spy comic while watching this adventurous romp into the classic days of spies chasing one another while always seemingly capable of escaping the local authorities.

There's everything you hope to find an aspire adventure from gadgetry to secret pills to attempts to get the secrets from the spies on the other side.

If you are looking for a realistic spy drama then I don't know why you'd even consider this film. The visuals that the filmmaker provides of planes in the air are downright amateurish. The stereotypical images of spies from the 1960s well that's what you get and they can't fool you. At times the action scenes reminded me of the old Batman TV show but then again this is a comedy and not anything to take seriously.

I had to pause the movie halfway because I was falling asleep but I knew I desperately wanted to see the end because it was that much fun. Yes, There are unexpected turns, but the ending is sort of blah but you'll have to wait until the end to see it because the journey is worth it if you want to just have a fun hour and a half of entertainment in the world of 1960's spy versus spy.

Disappointing, miscast Niven vehicle

[Bladerunner101 · 4/10 · 10 November 2013]

Despite Niven's presence do not expect this to be a comedy. There's nothing Pink Pantherish or Casino Royaleish here. It's a moderately engaging spy thriller but it hasn't aged well, the pace in particular meanders from leisurely to static.

Niven looks like he's parachuted in from a film made ten years earlier. It's difficult to work out why he was cast, or who the target audience was. In different hands it could have been a cousin of Johnson's Bulldog Drummond or Coburn's Flint, but misses both by a mile.

Dorleac smolders very effectively as the crumpet with brains. Although every performance of hers is given lustre and added depth, and distracting but unavoidable pathos, by the viewer's knowledge that she had less than two years to live.

Dorleac's final film!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 15 September 2016]

A bit over-talkative (although some droll humor is artfully concealed in the dialogue) with standard heroics and action brought to more life than it deserves by an especially hardworking cast: David Niven, Francoise Dorleac (her last film! Disappointingly her role is not all that large. She disappears for a long stretch while Niven is partnered by the redoubtable Nigel Davenport). Val Guest's direction too is not as fluent as Wolf Mankowitz's, but it could be the other way around. Both are credited, but who did what has not been officially told to us. As the movie was produced by Guest, my educated guess is that Mankowitz started the movie, but director Guest was unhappy with the rushes, fired Mankowitz and took over the direction himself. It's easy to tell the directors apart as one of them is not as fluent as the other and tends to concentrate and over-do close-ups. Real locations in Beirut, etc. help, but there also some very obvious models and studio scenes, Grant's close-ups of Miss Dorleac are attractive whilst Nascimbene's score is a bit too reliant on mechanical effects to be continually effective.

In Beirut

[boblipton · 5/10 · 19 February 2022]

Something dreadful is about to happen in Lebanon, but John Meseurier doesn't have any agents he can send there, so he recruits doctor David Niven, who flies to Beirut, has an affair with Françoise Dorléac, and winds up being kidnapped and tortured.

MGM thought they had an answer to James Bond in the Jason Love novels of James Leasor, but the result is a peculiarly weightless movie. There's not much fun, except for Mlle Dorléac and a sequence in which Niven charms Lebanese auto mechanic Eric Pohlmann with tales of his Cord roadster. We are expected to believe that a random English doctor can scale buildings with the ease of a mountain climber, and even the torture scenes seem to be wasted; Niven has no information on the local espionage scene. The movie is competently handled by Val Guest, but the show didn't set any box office records and the series never happened.

Dorleac falling in love for Niven 32 years eldest....I see....!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 6/10 · 20 March 2019]

A British spying thriller on cold war era with soft treatment by the director Val Guest, after they got a doctor to a dangerous assignment at Rome and Beirut, Lebanon, to find out a missing spy, maybe killed by Russian agents, at Rome's airport he has to meet an agent to aid him before to leave there, actually this connection was a pretty young girl played by Dorleac and before he goes to Lebanon she actually falling in love by Doctor Love, an suggestive name to an irresistible lover....I see, Françoise Dorleac was enchanted by a man 32 years eldest.....I see...well starting this very (im) plausible point of view all about to comes collapse for itself, also bound by a weak special effects made by odd thumbnails, an easy going production that l'd recorded from TCM on original and rare dubbed version!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2008 / How many: 3 / Source: DVD-R / Rating: 6.25

Unsuccesful and above all unsatisfying genre attempt.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 5/10 · 16 April 2007]

Director Val Guest got his fame for directing horror/science-fiction movies in the '50's. His movies never have really been the greatest but they were decent enough genre pieces, that are also quite well known, all over the world. With comedies he just never received much fame or praise and for a good reason, also especially when you look at this film. Though the right intentions are definitely there, this just isn't a good enough genre movie.

The movie is obviously trying to be a light entertaining espionage movie, perhaps even a genre spoof- and cold war spoof at times. The movie as a whole just isn't light enough in its settings and events to consider this really an entertaining movie, that doesn't successfully parodies or even entertains enough. The movie works in parts as a comedy and entertainment, especially in the beginning but its many more weaker moments really downgrade the movie and in parts even makes it a totally unwatchable and bad one.

The movie has a main plot line but it almost seemed as if they simply shot the movie as it was on the call-sheets, without paying much attention to development. Because of that the movie also becomes mostly uninteresting to watch and the events in the movie almost impossible to follow or care for.

The movie its main problem is really how poorly developed it is. Also with its seemingly important characters in the movie, that come and go and never get properly introduced or developed.

The movie has further more a great cast, filled with mostly some of the best British actors from its period. It are the sort of actors you perhaps not know by name but definitely by face. Of course David Niven is well known and he carries the movie well with his role and he also proofs how well he can handle the comedy genre but no matter how great he is, he feels out of place nevertheless, mostly due to his age. He just doesn't seem believable enough as a spy who gets the girls and charms his way through things.

The movie is shot at some nice far off locations but still the movie feels very low-budget. This is also due to some incredibly lame and fake looking miniature effects. Pay especially attention toward the ending when a character is jumping from a riding plane.

Not a complete train-wreck but not exactly a movie worth searching out either.

5/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

A light satire on the cold war spy story

[rgp-8 · 8/10 · 10 January 2006]

An amusing, tongue-in-cheek, British satire on the spy genre with David Niven at his debonair best. The comedy is dry and subtle, taking aim at the British and Russian spy-film caricatures. Niven plays the bumbling amateur who makes good but was recruited because all the other spies have been unfortunately lost - that's MI5. John Le Mesurier plays the part of the harassed, penny-pinching, civil servant with aplomb. His use of understatement in suggesting that the purpose of the visit was just to find Rosser and nothing more and his reference to the radio in a biscuit tin, exemplifies the absurdity that underpins the satire. Françoise Dorléac plays the sexy double agent with a light touch. A good support cast with Nigel Davenport excelling as the hard-drinking expatriate Brit. and Ronald Radd suitably menacing as the Russian spy master. In the 1960's the Lebanon was considered an exotic location, essential for this kind of film. As in the Bond films, the travelogue element with a "holiday" romance was an important part of the overall attraction.

For action and locations, 6. For story, 2. 6+2=8x50%=4. Hence my rating.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 27 June 2020]

I usually wouldn't begin a review of a movie with a simple math problem, but for those looking for simple escape with lush settings and lots of shoot-outs and chases, this is an OK time filler. But for story, forget about it. I gave up after 20 minutes trying to figure out what was going on, what the mission was, and who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. It's another one of the many Bond rip-offs, cheekily revealing so in its title, and cast with the always dashing David Niven, just coming off of "The Pink Panther" which wasn't a spy movie, but was similar as far as a caper theme.

Niven is a former agent from the war recruited for a mission, and finding himself involved with the pretty Françoise Dorléac who seems to be his contact but as he finds out somewhere along the way is a double agent who doesn't care who she works for as long as she gets paid and has fun. This is supposed to be a spoof, but a spoof should at least have a plot that makes sense, and after realizing where this was going (nowhere), I began to not care about whatever I was missing. I gather from the number of spy comedies I've seen that tried to gain some box-office clout through the Bond films that they were pretty much a dime a dozen in the 1960's, coming out at a rate of at least one a week in the mid to late 1960's. I'll take Bond or even good ole' American Matt Helm any day over these rip-offs, although it is obvious that David Niven is having a lot of fun.

Where the spies were

[dbdumonteil · 8 June 2008]

A dated little movie,but which ,thanks to the cast ,remains entertaining today.It was Goldfinger time and it shows.The scene on the plane recalls the ending of the best James Bond of all time,Vikki broadly playing the part of Pussy Galore.

But it is difficult to believe that a doctor can become a secret agent overnight.But if you forget that (in the highly superior "North by Northwest ",Cary Grant portrayed the same kind of hero),you may find his adventures palatable.

Also notable for the presence of Catherine Deneuve's sister ,Françoise Dorleac,then one of the most promising French actresses who tragically died two years later.

Very unimpressive

[Penfold-13 · 3/10 · 21 August 1999]

Cold War hi-jinks of an implausible nature. David Niven plays the civilian who turns out to have an aptitude for being a secret agent when plunged into the role by accident.

The studios were obviously still trying to convince people that David Niven could be a dashing man of action as well as suave and debonair, but unfortunately this line was always doomed, and this picture gives convincing evidence why.

The plot is arrant nonsense from beginning to end, played by a puppet theatre of cliched stereotypes.

Where The Audiences Are this certainly isn't.

Not bad enough to be funny

[Troopie · 2/10 · 9 January 2006]

I happened across this film whilst channel surfing late at night. At first, I thought it was a parody, a bit like 'Casino Royale' -- which Niven must be a lot more proud of! Sadly, I soon came to the realisation that this was not playing for laughs but wanted to be taken seriously. I will concede that Niven, Davenport & others do their best, but the wooden plot, corny lines & truly terribly dated music ruin any efforts by them. This film came out just a couple of years after "From Russia with Love" & is obviously trying to compete with the Bond series. Sadly, it fails miserably. Watch it if you have trouble sleeping, but only if you tire of watching the paint dry!

A total bore

[malcolmgsw · 3/10 · 24 June 2022]

Totally lacking in excitement and incident. Heavens know why they thought a nearly two hour version would work The plot is just so lackluster that it must have been written as they shot the film.

Great light hearted easy going film with superb cord car cameo piece

[iroyst-s · 10/10 · 21 April 2005]

I saw this film for the first time as teenager and thought it great fun and after 20 years I got the chance to see it again via TNT.I have since seen it at least half a dozen times on TNT re runs and its still great fun to watch. The film is a good attempt to provide some good light hearted humour matched against the absurdity of life's wheel of fortune. A south of England middle aged doctor with a passion for 1930s cord sports cars finds himself manipulated into doing a task for British intelligence only to find himself way out of his depth and up to his neck in intrigue.The doctor is played by the polished David Niven who gives a good believable performance and a host of British character actors are thrown in for good measure and depth .Female distraction is provided by the French actress Francoise Dorleac in one of her last films before her early tragic death. The films international locations span as far as picturesque 1960s Beruit in the days when it was the playground of the rich; before it was destroyed by war in 70s and thus provides a rare glimpse of what was. The film is also a good glimpse of 1960s revolution where old society values clash with the modern realisation that Britain is no longer a world superpower even though it likes to hope or think it is. Then there in the middle of it mirroring this duality is David Nivens middle age character trying to rise to the challenge surprised at what he can still do , but struggling to avoid the consequences of the things he cant and perhaps never could even when he was younger. This is presented with humour and its A DELIGHTFUL view and an enjoyable trip into 1960s film.

Serious, well written thriller

[davegrenfell · 8/10 · 11 September 2006]

A good, Bond like thriller, far removed from the standard 60s spy spoofs. Far more serious than even The Ipcress File, this features some very realistic deaths and torture sequences, and a climactic 'tricking the KGB plane' bit that is really nasty indeed. Niven plays it totally straight, with none of the comedy mannerisms that you feel familiar with from films like Casino Royale. A true gem. Bears comparison with The Spy who Came in From the cold.

Niven's character is a doctor who once spied during the war. The British Secret Service are desperate for someone who could justifiably visit Beirut to check on one of their spies who's gone missing (he's been shot) and there happens to be a medical conference there. Niven is a car fanatic, and is bribed with the promise of a very rare Cord Le Baron, which is his dream car. The Cord he drives, incidentally, is very similar to Bond's Bentley Continental, which is probably deliberate.

The plane he is due to get from Italy to Beirut blows up, and from then on he's really up against it. A very, very well written, well shot and performed movie, with terrific performances all round.

Brilliant...

[BeckyKmovieluver · 10/10 · 10 February 2004]

Brilliant... Where the Spies are is superb. With outstanding performances by David Niven, Nigel Davenport and John Le Mesurier. Where the spies are will make even the most reluctant of reluctant of audiences nostalgic for the classic secret agent film. When Dr. Love (David Niven) is approached by an old equatence in the secret service (John Le Mesurier) his life is turned upside down.

A very pleasant surprise.

[ckand · 8/10 · 30 March 2023]

I was expecting much more spoof than spy caper from "Where the Spies Are," and was very pleasantly surprised that the film was played straight and didn't strain too hard for laughs. There are still laughs to be had, and I found myself smiling almost all the way through - it lagged a bit in the third act, but bounced back for the ending - thanks to the light tone overlaying some pretty serious goings on.

Niven is excellent as the amateur spy who is nonetheless more than competent, and willing to do what's necessary without trying too hard to be a hero. The relationship with Dorléac's Vikki also works better than expected, especially because she's not all that impressed with him at first.

A personal shout out to Eric Pohlmann for his Lebanese auto collector and mechanic. He reminded me of my Lebanese-Egyptian-American father, especially when he told Niven's Dr. Love that he could get a much better deal on a car than Love could.

"Where the Spies Are" holds up better than either the outright spoofs of James Bond like Matt Helm and In Like Flint, or the dreary wannabe le Carré knock offs that also proliferated in the 1960's and early 70's.

Where are "Where the Spies Are"?

[JinxB · 15 May 2008]

I can absolutely not find a DVD or VHS to purchase of "Where the Spies Are". Please tell me where everyone is finding this film???? The reviews show it to be a fascinating time-capsule of 1960's Cold War craziness. The book is noteworthy. There are several different movie posters available which also suggest this was a hilarious film --even if paned by some noteworthy critics. Merely having David Nivin starring in any film should make it a gas.....so please tell me why is the dog-gone film so difficult to locate in cyberspace or real-world retail world??? I have searched Amazon, Netflix, eBay, and virtually every other vintage movie site. And now to add to my frustration, IMDb makes me write a minimum of 10 lines of absolute dribble when all I wanted to post was found in the first two lines. So I will keep adding to this silly comment until the minimum number of lines has been achieved. I need to know what site to visit to find this movie.