The Black Windmill (1974)
Directed by Don Siegel

Film Review

Despite its prestigious cast, this spy thriller (based on Clive Egleton's novel Seven Days to a Killing) is a surprisingly humdrum affair which is only just salvaged by the gusto with which Don Siegel directs it.  Michael Caine saunters casually back into Harry Palmer territory and is clearing having fun bouncing off Donald Pleasence (suitably cast as a pompous spy master) and John Vernon (predictably cast as the villain, yawn), although even he struggles to keep us interested as the convoluted plot gets tied up in its own intricacies and absurd contrivances.  A delectable trio of 1970s lovelies - Delphine Seyrig, Catherine Schell and Janet Suzman - helps to sweeten the bitter pill, but the plot is just too ridiculous, the characterisation too shallow for the film to be taken all that seriously.  After a very effective beginning, which builds the tension nicely, the story just falls to pieces in its second half - the whole thing ends with as much dignity as an overweight octogenarian collapsing from exhaustion whilst running in the London Marathon.  The Black Windmill is a jolly run-around if you have nothing better too do with your time, but it's hardly The Ipcress File.

Film Synopsis

Major Tarrant is a British intelligence officer who is attempting to infiltrate an arms smuggling ring which is supplying weaponry to terrorists in Northern Ireland.  His mission is compromised when his infant son is abducted and the kidnappers demand a ransom of half a million pounds in uncut diamonds from his employers.  When his boss refuses to pay up, Tarrant has no choice but to steal the diamonds and go after the kidnappers himself.  As he does so, his superiors become convinced that he is a mole working for the very people he is supposed to be investigating...