Reply With QuoteI know a lot of people think this is one of the worst MacLean adaptations but I rather like it. Sven-Bertil Taube is a bit of a plank but the film itself is very entertaining IMHO.
Puppet on a Chain (1970)
BBC1 tonight … 12.15-1.50am/12.45-2.20am … regional time variations ... Wednesday 15th April 2009
Splendidly entertaining Alistair MacLean thriller.
An agent of Interpol's Narcotics Bureau, Paul Sherman, ventures to Amsterdam to flush out a gang of murderous heroin smugglers. When a fellow agent is shot dead, he is forced to team up with the local Dutch police force. The stage is set for a breathtaking speedboat chase through the canals of Amsterdam.
Starring: Sven-Bertil Taube, Barbara Parkins, Alexander Knox, Patrick Allen, Vladek Sheybal, Ania Marson
Director: Geoffrey Reeve
Source: DigiGuide
I know a lot of people think this is one of the worst MacLean adaptations but I rather like it. Sven-Bertil Taube is a bit of a plank but the film itself is very entertaining IMHO.
Ruined by the lead actor without doubt, not bad but not very memorable either IMHO.
Originally Posted by mrs_emma_peel
Probably if not the best part of the whole film.
I like the Author, it is a great pity that some of his books were mainly adapted by US studios in the 60s/70s, the quality of the print colour is not so good and some americanised. P.O.C. is worth a look if you have not seen it.
Alistair Maclean remakes would be welcome (Except W.E.D.)
POAC was quite a troubled production as I recall, and had extensive reshoots directed by an uncredited Don Sharp.
At least the speedboat was credited Don Sharp.
Perhaps Sharp didn't do the rehoots, then. It's possible that the boat chase was a late addition as it seems odd that an A-picture director would be hired for an action sequence which a second unit might have been expected to handle.
I remember the film mainly because of Barbara Parkins. I thought she was a good actress but she fell off the planet pretty quickly.
Barbara had a solid career in films but was mainly seen on TV in the US, retiring in 1989 aged 47. She returned in the 90s doing voice work and making the occasional TV appearance.
Recorded this when it was on last Saturday night. I'd missed it several times before but this time it didn't escape me and I finally got to watch it. Taube is a little miscast but overall it's a great film and very worth watching if you can get it. Good story, twists and turns, shocking murders, and the boat chase scene is incredible for 1971. A classic Alistair McLean story and film adaptation similar in style to Caravan to Vaccares.
I would love to see HMS Ulysses being made,preferably before one is made called "USS Ulysses."
Ta Ta
Marky B
Unless, it was USS Ulysses, I doubt we are going to see it. The orginal book is pretty good, although you'd have to drastically cut the number of characters and reduce the number of mishaps (plus its unlikely any character nicknamed 'The Kapok Kid' would be unlikely to make it past the first draft).I would love to see HMS Ulysses being made,preferably before one is made called "USS Ulysses."
Its problem is that its a period film (so costly), which involves large ships (so expensive, even with CGI), on the water (read The Jaws Log to see how well that turns out), with a basically British cast (fine for Merchant Ivory, not so good for war films with an international audience, which is why we got Memphis Belle, rather than a film about Lancasters), and pretty much everyone dies (producers finally worked out how well that went down, after looking at the box office for Tora, Tora, Tora and A Bridge Too Far). Its all a bit too much to expect someone to put a large chunk of cash down to make it.
Apparently Rank were going to make it in 1980, but stopped making films entirely before it got going. There was a Radio 4 version of it back in 1997, but I completely missed it, and there doesn't seem to be any links to it anywhere, but it would be interesting to hear how they handled the narrative. There are certainly some really great pieces for a film, such as the original mutiny, the accident where the muzzle covers are left on the pom poms, the American freighter loaded with tank ammo is hit by a torpedo and of course the final sacrifical battle. Perhaps its best within our own heads.
I know the logistics go against it,Mike - the 1950's would have been an ideal time to make it (not sure when it was published) with Charles Frend directing (after his superb version of The Cruel Sea.
Ta Ta
Marky B
Just OK and yes the speedboat chase was the best bit
Suzanna Leigh mentions this in her autobiography - she was originally in it but her character was then cut out. IIRC the detective hero has two female assistants in the book.POAC was quite a troubled production as I recall, and had extensive reshoots directed by an uncredited Don Sharp.
As mentioned above, Sharp is credited for the speedboat chase which I think is all that he shot.
I wonder if this was the first speedboat chase on screen in this way? as it has been seen since in lots of Bond movies and a film called Amsterdamned which featured an excellent speedboat chase.
When this was screened on the BBC it was shown in fullscreen and wondered if it was shot that way or in widescreen?
Last edited by Electric Warrior; 19-03-15 at 03:10 PM.
According to IMDB it was originally shot in 1.78:1 , which is pretty much full screen on a widescreen TV.When this was screened on the BBC it was shown in fullscreen and wondered if it was shot that way or in widescreen?
Speedboat chase was not filmed in Amsterdam though, they filmed mostly in Utrecht and Arnhem for some shots.
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