The Deadly Affair (1967)

59% of users liked it
(234 ratings)

John LeCarre's Call for the Dead was the basis for this gloomy, complex spy story. James Mason plays a British secret agent puzzled by the sudden suicide of Foreign Office higher-up Robert Flemyng. Mason had worked on Flemyng's security clearance himself, and can't fathom what personality quirk he… More John LeCarre's Call for the Dead was the basis for this gloomy, complex spy story. James Mason plays a British secret agent puzzled by the sudden suicide of Foreign Office higher-up Robert Flemyng. Mason had worked on Flemyng's security clearance himself, and can't fathom what personality quirk he might have missed. The agent suspects that the dead man's wife (Simone Signoret), a concentration camp survivor, may hold the answer to Flemyng's despair, but the Foreign Office wants Mason to drop the case. Mason hires retiring Inspector Harry Andrews to do some private detective work. What Mason and Andrews find out is more insidious than they've imagined; worse, Mason is saddled with a new dilemma--his wife (Harriet Andersson) has been unfaithful with a colleague (Maximillian Schell). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Sidney Lumet
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Oct 1, 1966 Wide

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Top-notch spy thriller for the thinking man.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Grifty G

Another why-haven't-I-heard-of-this Lumet film. A solid spy thriller, doesn't break to much ground but once again shows that Lumet can tell a great story. After this and the Hill, Harry Andrews is becoming a new favorite actor. Oh yeah, a fantastic 60's jazz score by… More
Another why-haven't-I-heard-of-this Lumet film. A solid spy thriller, doesn't break to much ground but once again shows that Lumet can tell a great story. After this and the Hill, Harry Andrews is becoming a new favorite actor. Oh yeah, a fantastic 60's jazz score by Quincy Jones.

Cast

            James Mason as Charles Dobbs

            Simone Signoret as Elsa Fennan

            Maximilian Schell as Dieter Frey

            Harriet Andersson as Anna Dobbs

            Lynn Redgrave as Virgin

            Harry Andrews as Inspector Mendel

            Kenneth Haigh as Bill Appleby

            Roy Kinnear as Adam Scarr

            Max Adrian as Adviser

            Robert Flemyng as Samuel Fennan

            Corin Redgrave as David

            David Warner as Edward

            Michael Bryant as Gaveston

            Paul Hardwick as Young Mortimer

            Charles Kay as Lightborn

            Timothy West as Matrevis

            Les White as Harek

            June Murphy as Witch

            Frank Williams as Second Witch

            John Dimech as Waiter

            Julian Sherrier as Waiter

            Petra Markham as Daughter at Theater

            Dennis Shaw as Landlord

            Maria Charlès as Blonde

            Amanda Walker as Brunette

            Sheraton Blount as Eunice Scarr

            Janet Hargreaves as Ticket Clerk

            Michael Brennan as Barman

            Richard Steele as Businessman

            Gertan Klauber as Businessman

            Margaret Lacey as Mrs. Bird

            Murray Brown
            
            David Quilter
            
            Leslie Sands as Inspector

            Terence Sewards
            
            William Dysart
            
See full cast