Great Britain

Otto Preminger directed and Tom Stoppard wrote the screen play for this film version of a Graham Greene novel. Nicol Williamson plays Maurice Castle, described by spy-chief 'C' as dull but brilliant with files'. When a minor leak in a small sub-section of the secret service brings Colonel Daintry (Richard Attenborough) to unearth the culprit, pressure is brought to bear on Castle who has compromised his loyalty for the freedom of his beautiful African wife (Iman). But Daintry's investigation leads to the elimination of the wrong man and Castle is forced to choose for himself where his true loyalties lie. As the enormity of his dilemma develops this spy-story-with-a-difference coldly dissects the characters of all concerned. Richard Attenborough, Richard Vernon and Robert Morley deliver superb performances as Whitehall spy masters in for the kill.