OSS 117 - Double Agent
1968 · Italy, France · 105 min
- Director
- André Hunebelle, Jean-Pierre Desagnat
- Screenplay
- Michel Michelet, Jean-Pierre Desagnat, Pierre Foucaud
- Producer
- André Hunebelle
- Music
- Piero Piccioni
- Cinematography
- Tonino Delli Colli
- Editing
- Jolanda Benvenuti
Cast
What it is about
A spy thriller from the late-sixties Eurospy wave. John Gavin plays agent OSS 117 in a story of international intrigue and exotic locations, where action carries more weight than the plot.
How it was made
Directed by André Hunebelle and Jean-Pierre Desagnat, written by Michel Michelet, Desagnat and Pierre Foucaud, with a score by Piero Piccioni, it was an Italian-French co-production shot in Rome and Tunisia. During production it went by the working title No Roses for Robert. Frederick Stafford could not return to the role because he was filming Hitchcock's Topaz, so John Gavin took over. The story relied on the hero undergoing plastic surgery to fool his enemies, an idea that On Her Majesty's Secret Service, shot at the same time, had dropped.
Reception and legacy
It was a moderate hit at the French box office, ranking as the year's fortieth most popular film. It never received a US release despite Gavin's lead role. Still, the part gave him a brief spell as a candidate to play James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
A change of lead
Frederick Stafford did not reprise the role because he was filming Topaz. John Gavin replaced him.
A shared idea
The plastic surgery plot device used here was discarded by On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which was being shot at the same time.
Working title
During production the film was known as No Roses for Robert.
More films by André Hunebelle
Fantômas
Fantômas Against Scotland Yard
Fantômas Unleashed
The Return of Monte Cristo
Le Bossu
The Mysteries of ParisOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.