The Venetian Affair

"The Venetian Affair", based on Helen MacInnes bestseller, is one of the seemingly endless number of James Bond-inspired spy films that flooded cinemas in the mid to late 1960's. Despite a pedestrian script and direction, the film benefits from some great on-location scenery in Venice as well as a talented and eclectic cast. Robert Vaughn plays against type as an alcoholic reporter who is swept into an espionage case with international repercussions. Vaughn delivers the goods with a convincing, world-weary performance that was at odds with his weekly heroics as The Man From UNCLE (despite popular belief, this is not an UNCLE-related film). Karl Boehm is fine as the obligatory charming villain, Roger C. Carmel provides some light moments in the otherwise downbeat script, Boris Karloff has one of his last quality roles, and Thunderball Bond girl Luciana Paluzzi, queen of the '60's spy films, makes a brief but welcome appearance. Only Elke Sommer gums up the works with a typically wooden performance that is little more animated than the stone gargoyles that adorn the ancient Venetian buildings. In summary, an unremarkable, but entertaining film. Rarely seen in recent years, TCM has recently begun telecasting it in a glorious widescreen version. One hopes that a video release will eventually take place.

Two things are noteworthy about The Venetian Affair. One was that Robert Vaughn tried to break out into the big screen like such television contemporaries as James Garner and Steve McQueen without the success that they had. The second was that this was the last film Boris Karloff did that was not related to the horror genre.

The film begins with a bang. An American diplomat is given a bomb and it detonates in a disarmament conference in Venice. No one can figure out why, but you can bet the USA does not want to be held responsible when forensics prove it was our guy who was the suicide bomber.

Our man in Venice for the CIA Edward Asner sends for former agent Robert Vaughn who is now an alcoholic newspaperman working for a wire service. They suspect his ex-wife Elke Sommer has something to do with it and he's the best at finding her. She's also the reason that he's no longer with the CIA.

Boris Karloff plays an elderly man of geopolitical mystery. He knows what's going on, but some sinister folks are controlling him.

The Venetian Affair is a pedestrian affair moving at a paint drying pace and Vaughn after being television's urbane Napoleon Solo in The Man From UNCLE never quite got his teeth in this part. Karl Boehm is a good villain and only at the very end do we find out who he is working for. As for the reason why the diplomat did the foul deed, that you watch The Venetian Affair for.

In 1967, when the spy genre became well and truly a parody of itself, there were only some spy films that were serious attempts in the genre. "The Venetian Affair" is one such film. It's a very well made, suspenseful and dramatic work, based on Helen MacInnes' novel of the same name. Still TV's super-spy Napoleon Solo, Robert Vaughn plays the anti-hero, antithesis of Solo/Bond/Flint etc, as former-CIA man, now downtrodden journalist Bill Fenner. He plays Fenner extremely well, a perfect role for Vaughn's sensibilities as a thoughtful, intellectual man. Aided magnificently is a strong European cast - Elke Sommer, Boris Karloff, Luciana Paluzzi and Karl Boehm to name just a few. Also prominent is Edward Asner as the tough CIA chief Rosenfeld.

Overall, this is an excellent and often misunderstood film. Most people and critics alike, expected the any spy film from this era to be more glamorous and fun a la "In Like Flint" or "You Only Live Twice" which came out the same year. However, looking in retrospect some thirty-years on, one can appreciate a fine dramatic work, one which stands up to the test of time much better than any of its more outrageous competitors.

An American diplomat sets off a suicide bomb in a peace conference. It's a confounding case. The Americans and the Soviets are nominally working together but both suspect each other. CIA chief Frank Rosenfeld (Ed Asner) recruits former agent Bill Fenner (Robert Vaughn) to investigate. Bill's ex-wife Sandra Fane (Elke Sommer) is a suspected communist and the CIA has her filmed suggesting involvement in the case. The cause may be connected to Dr. Vaugiroud (Boris Karloff).

After an explosive start, this slows down to a crawl. Despite some interesting espionage material, this movie is stagnate. The tone is hushed and lacking in kinetic energy. It generates no tension. The filmmaker is not injecting any intensity into the picture. It's basically a casual stroll through an espionage park with some interesting scenery. It's also interesting to see Karloff nearing his end but everything moves too slowly including the story.

Robert Vaughn was so great as a spy in Man from U.N.C.L.E. that he got a starring role in the full length film Venetian Affair. Vaughn is Fenner, retired CIA, but now working as a reporter (really ?). after the bombing of diplomats in venice, he is sent to get whatever information he can for the wire services. Some other fun names here. the awesome Boris Karloff, taking a break from his horror films. Ed Asner, WAY before MTM or Lou Grant. he had done lots of tv work, but this appears to be his third film role. Elke Sommer did a bunch of projects with Dean Martin. in this film, she's Sandra, who may be involved in the bombing. Karloff is Dr. Vaugiroud, who may or may not be helpful to Fenner. the first half moves pretty slowly.. it's all setup. there's kind of a showdown scene at the end, and things are explained, but it's just so-so. it's entertaining enough, but nothing new and exciting. some fun scenery of Venice, as imdb claims that it actually was filmed there. directed by Jerry Thorp, his first of only two film projects; done in the middle of so many television shows. story by Helen MacInnes, who had a couple novels made into film.