French Intelligence Agent Andre Devereaux becomes embroiled in Cold War politics, first by uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and then breaking up an internat... Read allFrench Intelligence Agent Andre Devereaux becomes embroiled in Cold War politics, first by uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and then breaking up an international Russian spy ring.French Intelligence Agent Andre Devereaux becomes embroiled in Cold War politics, first by uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and then breaking up an international Russian spy ring.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination
- Tamara Kusenova
- (as Tina Hedstrom)
- Claude Martin
- (as John Van Dreelen)
- Luis Uribe
- (as Don Randolph)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to Sir Alfred Hitchcock, this was another of his experimental movies. In addition to the dialogue, the plot is revealed through the use of colors, predominantly red, yellow, and white. He admits that this did not work out.
- GoofsA shot during the May Day parade sequence at the beginning of the film clearly reveals the parade to be taking place during the 50th anniversary of the October revolution (around the 1:29 mark), putting it in 1967 as opposed to 1961-63 when the story is supposed to have taken place. Therefore a person watching this parade could not have possibly defected to the USA and warned them of the Soviet missile deployment in Cuba (as is claimed in the beginning of the film).
- Quotes
Nicole Devereaux: Okay, I'm going. And you two secret agents can settle down and be secret agents.
Andre Devereaux: I wish you wouldn't use such words, my love.
Nicole Devereaux: Why? Who do you think you are fooling, my master spy? Everybody in Washington knows that you are not a Commercial Attaché. Everybody in Washington knows that the Chief of Russian Intelligence is the chauffeur who drives a car for...
Andre Devereaux: Everybody in Washington does *not* know these things. And I would thank you not to repeat them. Go to bed.
Michael Nordstrom: Nicole, where did you hear that about the Chief of Russian Intelligence?
Nicole Devereaux: From my butcher.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: Somewhere in this crowd is a high Russian official who disagrees with his government's display of force and what it threatens. Very soon his conscience will force him to attempt an escape while apparently on a vacation with his family. Copenhagen, Denmark Nineteen Hundred Sixty-two
- Alternate versionsHitchcock shot two versions with completely different endings. Both endings are featured in the laserdisc version.
- ConnectionsEdited into Topaz: Alternative Endings (1969)
His other spy dramas, like NORTH BY NORTHWEST, may be more fun, but none of them are as realistic. In fact, very few spy films have the authenticity as TOPAZ. The story is based on fact. In 1962, a Russian top-level KGB defector informed the U.S. that some very high-level French diplomats, in a group called "Sapphire", were selling secrets to the Soviet Union. TIME Magazine printed this story in April 26, 1968, and did so using the same source that Leon Uris did: the U.S. sympathizing (and exiled) former Chief of French Intelligence, Philippe Thyraud de Vosjoli.
Incidentally, a viewer needs to know the chronology and key events surrounding the 1962 Cuban Missile Crises as background, or else the film will be confusing. I suspect many critics condemn it because it's easier for them to dismiss the film rather than confront their own ignorance.
Not that this movie is without weaknesses. Hitchcock was no realist, and the grim world of films like THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is probably the type of ambiance it should have presented, but doesn't. However, I definitely join the camp of those who consider it underrated. I read writers on Hitchcock who unthinkingly rank TOPAZ with his worst stuff, and yet many of us prefer it over THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY, MR. AND MRS. SMITH, and other Hitchcock works that don't get castigated as nearly as much. I can't help but suspect they receive less criticism because they are more typical Hitchcock. This film is atypical Hitchcock, so readjust your expectations accordingly.
- patrick.hunter
- Aug 9, 2000
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Alfred Hitchcock's Topaz
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $88
- Runtime2 hours 23 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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