A Dandy in Aspic is a 1968 British spy film, directed by Anthony Mann, based on a novel of the same name by Derek Marlowe and starring Laurence Harvey, Tom Courtenay and Mia Farrow.
Essentially a Cold War thriller, it is the story of a Russian counter-espionage agent, known as Eberlin to his employers in British Intelligence, where he is working undercover for Moscow as a double agent.
Plot
Eberlin's superiors in Britain instruct him to find and assassinate a KGB agent named Krasnevin, believed to have killed a number of British agents. This presents a problem for Eberlin, as he is Krasnevin. Fortunately for him the British believe Eberlin to be somebody else. He is summoned to a meeting at a country house, where he is presented with a photograph of the suspected Krasnevin. It turns out to be his handler and go-between with Moscow.
He is partnered with a ruthless, cynical and sociopathic British agent Gatiss (Tom Courtenay), who openly distrusts and dislikes Eberlin. Mia Farrow plays a London-based photographer with whom Eberlin has an affair. Much of the film takes place in West Berlin, where Eberlin tackles the dilemma posed by his mission by attempting to escape across the Berlin Wall to the East. His attempts are frustrated by his partnership with Gatiss, and by the Soviet authorities, who are keen retain one of their top agents in British intelligence.
Production
Largely filmed on location in London and Berlin, this was Anthony Mann's final film; he died before it was finished. Its direction was completed by Harvey.
The film also features Peter Cook, at a time when his TV career was at a peak, in a minor role as the foppish but libidinous British agent, Prentiss.
Cast
External links
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