| Operation Diplomat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Guillermin |
| Written by | A. R. Rawlinson John Guillermin |
| Based on | a story by Francis Durbridge |
| Produced by | Ernest G. Roy |
| Starring | Guy Rolfe |
| Cinematography | Gerald Gibbs |
| Edited by | Joseph Sterling |
| Music by | Wilfred Burns |
Production company | Nettleford |
| Distributed by | Butcher's Film Service |
Release dates | December 1953 (UK) July 1954 (US)[1] |
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Operation Diplomat is a 1953 British drama film directed by John Guillermin and produced by Ernest G. Roy.[2][3][4]
This was one of Guillermin's earliest films. A profile of the director calls it "perhaps the first example of prime Guillermin ... a 70-minute programmer so tautly directed that every image counts, every detail matters, every actor's movement feels perfectly timed – a true gem."[5]
Plot summary
A surgeon operating on an unknown patient discovers that he is involved in the kidnapping of a British diplomat. After his personal secretary is murdered for revealing the patient's identity the police are called in.
Cast
- Guy Rolfe as Dr Mark Fenton
- Lisa Daniely as Lisa Durand
- Patricia Dainton as Sister Rogers
- Sydney Tafler as Wade
- Ballard Berkeley as Inspector Austin
- Anton Diffring as Shroder
- Brian Worth as Geoffrey Terry
- Michael Golden as Harrison
- James Raglan as Sir Oliver Peters
- Avice Landone as Mrs Terry
- Eric Berry as Colonel Williams
- Edward Dain as Sergeant Lewis
- William Franklyn as Dr Gillespie
- Desmond Llewelyn as Police Constable at barrier (uncredited)
- Joan Vandenberghe as child in bench scene
Critical assessments
When the film was released The Monthly Film Bulletin called it an "energetic yet improbable figure with too many points left unexplained".[6]
More recently a writer for TV Guide concluded that "this film is hard to swallow, but the non-stop action helps cover up the gaping holes in the plot",[7] and a writer for Filmink asserted that "it's crisply done".[8]
References
- ↑ Drama Has Icy Locale Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 1 July 1954: A9.
- ↑ "Operation Diplomat". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
- ↑ OPERATION DIPLOMAT Picture Show; London Vol. 62, Iss. 1617, (Mar 27, 1954): 10
- ↑ Pratt, Vic; Lees, Kate (2020). "CHAPTER 3 EARLY DAYS WITH ADELPHI FILMS". In Guillermin, Mary (ed.). John Guillermin: The Man, The Myth, The Movies. Precocity Press. p. 45.
- ↑ Olaf Möller, "Savage Spectacles", Film Comment January/February 2014, pp. 20-21.
- ↑ OPERATION DIPLOMAT Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 21, Iss. 240, (Jan 1, 1954): 11.
- ↑ "Operation Diplomat". TV Guide.
- ↑ Vagg, Stephen (17 November 2020). "John Guillermin: Action Man". Filmink.
External links
- Operation Diplomat at IMDb
- Operation Diplomant at Letterbox DVD
- Operation Diplomat as Reel Streets