As obscurities go, "Charlie Muffin" is an unlikely entry into the genre of the 'never-heard-of-it'. For a British spy story, it is surprisingly hip, street-wise and terribly ironic. Not as serious as "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" but perhaps more entertaining, it takes a sceptical look at the so-called glamour of cold war entrapment, lying, kidnapping and other things that are actually being done to you by your own side.
David Hemmings is as comfortable as an old shoe in the title role, and Ralph Richardson has a couple of minutes of invaluable screen-time as his old boss, whose methods were, shall we say, a little more orthodox than the somewhat obtuse fellow who is giving Charlie his orders at the moment.
I once owned this on ex-rental video, but was delighted to find out that the version posted on You Tube is at least thirty minutes longer. More laughs, more thrills and more sublime take-downs of the British spying establishment before they had the sense to elect Margaret Thatcher lol.
David Hemmings is as comfortable as an old shoe in the title role, and Ralph Richardson has a couple of minutes of invaluable screen-time as his old boss, whose methods were, shall we say, a little more orthodox than the somewhat obtuse fellow who is giving Charlie his orders at the moment.
I once owned this on ex-rental video, but was delighted to find out that the version posted on You Tube is at least thirty minutes longer. More laughs, more thrills and more sublime take-downs of the British spying establishment before they had the sense to elect Margaret Thatcher lol.