Good concept, poorly executed.

Dreadfully Boring

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Produced by Brad Dexter. Copyright 31 December 1966 by Artanis Productions (a wholly-owned U.K. subsidiary of Frank Sinatra Enterprises). A Sinatra Enterprises Production. Released through Warner Bros. New York opening simultaneously at the Murray Hill and the Forum: 19 July 1967. U.K. release: 20 August 1967. Australian release: 30 November 1967. Running times: 104 minutes (USA), 102 minutes (UK), 101 minutes (including censor classification footage) (Aust).SYNOPSIS: Sam Laker (Frank Sinatra), an American widower who designs furniture in England, is planning to take his 14-year-old son, Patrick (Michael Newport), on a business trip to the Leipzig Fair behind the Iron Curtain. Before he leaves, Laker gets a call from a wartime buddy, Martin Slattery (Peter Vaughan), with whom Laker served in Special Operations in Germany. Slattery, who is with British Intelligence, wants Laker to deliver a message in Leipzig. Reluctantly, Laker agrees when Slattery says it will help Karen Gisevius (Nadia Gray), an underground member who had helped him during the war.Laker arrives in East Germany and makes contact with Karen. Upon returning to his hotel, he learns that his son has had an "accident" and is lured to a forest hideout where he meets Hartmann (Derren Nesbitt), a colonel in the East German State Security Service. COMMENT: Whatever happened to Sidney J. Furie? Once hailed as the brightest spark to hit British films in the 60s, his reputation has suffered a general eclipse. The problem of course is that Furie lost favor with the critics. "The Naked Runner" was roundly jeered at and counted out in every newspaper from Bangkok to Bourke. For once, both their lettered and unwashed readers agreed with editorial judgments. Despite a massive advertising campaign, "The Naked Runner" wound up as a large red-ink entry in Sinatra's accounts.Personally, I regard "The Naked Runner" as the best spy film to come out of England. Even more suspense, surprises and twists than "Pimpernel Smith" or "Night Train to Munich". Edge-of-the-seat excitement all the way, thanks to the inventive Sid Furie mixing in the Cold War and one of the finest supporting casts ever seen. Furie achieves most of his effects by editing rather than camera movement and his compositions are continually engrossing. The script is a model of gripping suspense. Only the final few seconds are a bit of a let-down. Otto Heller's brilliant cinematography, the fine sets and effective music score make a notable contribution to the film's success.OTHER VIEWS: I remember Peter Vaughan. It's 35 years since I've seen "The Naked Runner" but the ominously looming image of Peter Vaughan is firmly engraved on my memory. I've seen him in other parts, including the TV adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, but none of them made the same highly forceful impression. The same goes for Derren Nesbitt. Best part he ever played too. Exotic Nadia Gray has presence, as always. Though her part here is rather small, you can't forget her first encounter with Sinatra. While producer Frankie himself does a brilliant job of dramatic work as the harassed, "ordinary" businessman, worn down by and inextricably caught up in spiraling and hideous events over which he has no control. - JHR writing as George Addison.

This is an excellent spy thriller. The plot gets tangled at times, like what was that all about at the airport and the rifle? Sinatra is great and a well chosen international cast. It may be a B grade movie but you will certainly be entertained. The director uses a plethora of different camera angles which I thought were very good. It is too bad they didn't know how to end it.

Largely underrated by the critics and ignored by the movie-watching public, "The Naked Runner" is a film that definitely deserves your attention. The director, Sidney Furie, who had made the excellent "Ipcress File" two years earlier, shows (again) an instinctive feel for this genre, using many clever camera angles to inject a unique visual style into the picture. Maybe his style is a little too controlled at times (the movie is stiffly paced), but it's also unusually grim and thoughtful. And he also knows how to keep the story comprehensible - which is a relief for anyone who has seen such monstrosities as "The Kremlin Letter". Overall, this is an engrossing thriller, with an ending that's perhaps a little too abrupt, but also with a great, mature performance by Frank Sinatra.

This is definitely a typical B-type 1960's European spy thriller, but certainly not bad. Convoluted plot, but the use of extreme close-ups, tasteful melancholy score, and an excellent performance by Sinatra make it worthwhile viewing for fans of Sinatra dramas. His performance is very intense and believable. While the plot is needlessly tangled and premise is farfetched, the film is not at all corny - its presentation is perhaps more difnified than the plot and payoff deserve. Sinatra's performance is the best thing about it. A lengthier, better plot and bigger payoff would have lifted the film up into something near "The Iprcess File" league. The other good aspects of that film are in place here, but this remains a B-level spy thriller despite an obvious attempt to make an A-level thriller. Still, a must-see for Sinatra fans - but perhaps on cable or rental.