Our man from Istanbul

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Movie
German title Our man from Istanbul
Original title Operación Estambul
Country of production Spain
Italy
France
original language Spanish
Publishing year 1965
length 114-117 minutes
Age rating FSK 16 f (formerly nf)
Rod
Director Antonio Isasi
script Antonio Isasi
Giovanni Simonelli
Luis Comeron
R. Illa
production Nat Wachsberger
music Georges Garvarentz
camera Juan Gelpi
cut Juan Pallejá
occupation

Our Man in Istanbul (original title Operación Estambul ) is a Spanish-Italian-French adventure film from 1965 directed by Antonio Isasi . The main roles are occupied by Horst Buchholz and Sylva Koscina as well as Mario Adorf , Perrette Pradier and Klaus Kinski .

action

Tony Maecenas has settled in Istanbul as a night club owner. The playboy par excellence, who comes from a traditional Chicago gangster family, lives there unencumbered by financial worries. He is the chairman of the “4 Aces Club”, which, in addition to various attractions, also houses an illegal gambling den. For his personal protection, Tony has hired two bodyguards: Brain, who clears up difficult problems for him, and Bogo, who is not the brightest but knows how to use his fists.

When Kenny, a very attractive young lady, applies to him as a striptease dancer and is extremely clever when auditioning, Tony warns his instinct, on which he can actually always rely. He is sure that the young lady doesn't really work in this industry and, after persistent inquiries, finds out that Kenny is an FBI officer . They were summoned from Washington to investigate the whereabouts of an American nuclear scientist who was kidnapped. Kenny tells Tony that a million dollars ransom has already been paid for the scientist's release. However, the plane with Pendergast and two agents exploded. X-rays of the professor's foot had shown that it was not he who was on board. So not only was Pendergast gone, but the million dollars too. Truly no fame for the FBI. When Tony wants to know why Kenny is telling him all this, she reveals that they know of his good connections and his excellent knowledge of the labyrinth of the underworld of Istanbul. He would be of great help in that regard. After Tony declines with thanks, his decision is shaken when Kenny assures him that if he succeeds he can keep the million; so he says yes.

The situation is that a Western secret organization has kidnapped Pendergast and a group of Far Eastern agents desperately want the scientist. Tony's considerations are to play off both interest groups against each other and then strike at the right moment. However, all of this is not as easy as Playboy had imagined. Both interest groups quickly realize that someone has got on the boat and are now trying with all means at their disposal to eliminate Tony. The young man gets into unbelievable situations and more than once in serious danger. Tony can only rely on Kenny's help to a limited extent and is also stressed when the young lady is kidnapped. Since Tony doesn't always obey the law on many fronts in his hunt, the police are also on his heels. In the end, however, Tony solves his task to the satisfaction of the FBI and is rewarded with a million dollars. But it doesn't stop there, because as an encore he also gets Kenny.

Production notes and background

The film was shot in Istanbul and Málaga in Spain . It is an Antonio Isasi Isasmendi production by Columbia Pictures and distributed by Constantin Film . The film had its premiere in Italy on August 11, 1965 under the title Colpo grosso a Galata Bridge , running time 100 minutes. In the Federal Republic of Germany it started on September 1, 1965, in France under the title L'homme d'Istamboul , running time 90 minutes, on September 8, 1965 and in Spain under the title Operación Estambul, running time 115 minutes, on 28 September 1965. October 1965. In the USA That Man started in Istanbul on September 16, 1965 in New York.

After completing the shooting, Horst Buchholz commented on his film role that it was one of “his toughest” but also “funniest of his career” and that the scenes were always played with a certain wink.

The German dubbed version was done by Joachim Brinkmann . In contrast to the German actors Christiane Maybach and Klaus Kinski, who were psychronized by others, Horst Buchholz and Mario Adorf dubbed themselves.

criticism

The lexicon of international films spoke of a “solid adventure film in the imitated James Bond style with a shady heroic figure and over-emphasized hardship. Not clumsy in the humorous alienation. "

Cinema's conclusion was: “0.007 instead of 007: delightful sixties trash” and emphasized that “among the many villains” there would also be Klaus Kinski and Mario Adorf.

prisma was of the opinion that it should have been "an action-packed, tangible James Bond-style adventure film", but it wasn't quite enough. It went on: “Horst Buchholz is a 31-year-old who is convincing in the role of agent Tony MacDonald, who also has a license to kill and has an irresistible effect on women. Convincing: Klaus Kinski as the main villain. "

The evangelical film observer also judges ambiguously : “A riot of high tension, which also includes Istanbul unusually well in the plot. The shady main character and numerous realistic brutalities in the midst of almost enjoyable parts nevertheless forbid a recommendation and moreover make the film unsuitable for young people. "

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Estambul 65 movie poster
  2. ↑ Illustrated Film-Kurier No. 58: Our man from Istanbul , United Publishing Companies Franke & Co. KG, Munich, p. 6
  3. ↑ Our man from Istanbul In: synchronkartei.de
  4. ↑ Our man from Istanbul. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  5. ↑ Our man from Istanbul at cinema.de (with pictures of the film). Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ Our man from Istanbul at prisma.de. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ Evangelischer Presseverband München, Review No. 344/1965