The Assassination Bureau (1969)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(1,205 ratings)

The Assassination Bureau is loosely based on a turn-of-the-century yarn written by Jack London. Nellie Bly-style girl reporter Sonya Winter (Diana Rigg) tries to get the goods on shady businessman Ivan Dragomiloff (Oliver Reed). Ivan is in charge of a wide-reaching organization which, for a price,… More The Assassination Bureau is loosely based on a turn-of-the-century yarn written by Jack London. Nellie Bly-style girl reporter Sonya Winter (Diana Rigg) tries to get the goods on shady businessman Ivan Dragomiloff (Oliver Reed). Ivan is in charge of a wide-reaching organization which, for a price, assassinates those who "need killing." As a challenge, Sonya offers to pay Ivan a huge sum if he'll instruct his minions to assassinate him; Ivan agrees, hoping that it will put a little kick in his work. Despite his profession, Ivan isn't the villain of the piece; that honor goes to evil nobleman Lord Bostwick (Telly Savalas), whose perfidy leads Sonya into joining forces with the Assassination Bureau. A wild climactic chase in a zeppelin caps this tongue-in-cheek escapade. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Basil Dearden
Written By: Michael Relph
Genres: Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 10, 1969 Wide
On DVD: Jul 13, 2004

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Entire cast play their respective roles broadly and each gives a good account of himself.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's never as funny as it looks, but it's a pleasant enough ride if you like your companions.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
None too witty black comedy.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Amusing, but with those stars it ought to be better than it is.
, Film4
A cinematic curio, but also a delightful souvenir of the 60s.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Fun spoof of spy/action flicks that knows how to use historical events in a clever way. Reed and Savalas are excelent, and Rigg a beauty and the best eye candy a movie could have.
jay n

Delightful black comedy with the handsome Reed and the comely Diana Rigg a fun pair of leads. The bad guys are dispatched in ridiculous but entertaining ways and there is a sense that everyone is enjoying themselves which adds to your enjoyment of the film.