Watch The Deadly Affair

The Deadly Affair is a British espionage thriller film that was released in 1967. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film is an adaptation of John le Carré's novel Call for the Dead. The movie features a talented cast including James Mason, Maximilian Schell, and Simone Signoret. The plot of the film revolves around Charles Dobbs (played by James Mason), a British intelligence officer who is investigating a case involving a possible defection by a top-ranking government official. The case takes a complicated turn when the official is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Charles is determined to uncover the truth behind the death and the investigation leads him into a web of deceitful politics, tangled personal relationships, and Cold War-era espionage.

Maximilian Schell plays Dieter Frey, a German businessman who is suspected of being a spy. Charles sets his sights on Frey as a key suspect in his investigation. However, the deeper Charles delves into the case, the more complex it becomes. Along the way, he meets Elsa Fennan (played by Simone Signoret), the widow of the dead official, and he becomes romantically involved with her.

As Charles investigates the case, he realizes that things are not as straightforward as they seem. The more he learns, the more he begins to suspect that he himself is being tracked by a shadowy organization that is determined to stop him from uncovering the truth. Claustrophobic and paranoid, Charles digs deeper, trying to untangle the lies and misdirection of the web of politics and espionage that surrounds him.

The Deadly Affair is a slow-burning spy thriller that is more about the personal relationships and characters than about the action. James Mason delivers a compelling performance as the reserved, introspective Charles, who is haunted by personal guilt and haunted by the ghosts of his past.

Maximilian Schell is also excellent as the enigmatic and possibly dangerous businessman who Charles suspects may be a spy. Simone Signoret delivers a powerful performance as Elsa Fennan, the damaged widow who is drawn to Charles and the two form a complicated and intense relationship throughout the film.

Overall, The Deadly Affair is a powerful film that is both thought-provoking and engaging. The film is atmospheric and moody, with a strong sense of tension and paranoia throughout. The movie is a fascinating look at the politics and espionage of the 1960s, and the personal toll that the complexities of the job can take on those involved. The Deadly Affair is an intelligent and sophisticated thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

The Deadly Affair is a 1967 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.