Splendidly shot, with a bright and colourful look and Padua, Veneto covering for Prague, this is a delight visually. The film also gathers together a host of Brit actors who all put in fine performances. Leo McKern suitable sinister as chief of the secret police and Sylvia Koscina does well playing his sexy daughter and romantic interest for Dirk Bogarde. Bogarde himself is excellent and rides out a lot of the developing silliness with some aplomb. Even Robert Morley, who can be a bit over the top, puts in a very restrained and effective performance. Trouble is, there really isn't a story here. Apparently based upon a prize winning crime novel it is hard to see where the interest lay. Very meagre tale of espionage gone wrong is stretched out so that even the modest running time here seems too long.
Review of Agent 8 3/4
