SCORPIO (1973)

[The Burgomaster]

This is a better-than-average (and generally forgotten) spy thriller from the early 1970s.  Surprisingly, it was directed by Michale Winner, who went on to direct mostly mediocre or crappy movies like THE SENTINEL and several Charles Bronson flicks later in his career.  But SCORPIO is pretty good.

Burt Lancaster stars as Cross, a veteran CIA agent whose superiors want dead.  They hire a French assassin known as Scorpio (Alain Delon) to do the job.

The DVD quality is excellent - - nice sharp picture and bright colors.  I picked it up for under $10.00.  Check it out if you enjoy spy thrillers (but NOT if you're expecting James Bond style action - - you won't see many wild gadgets or scantily clad women in this one).

[Neville]

I remember trying to watch it, but I didn't found it engaging enough. It should be noted that Winner was a solid filmmaker, at least in his beginnings before selling out, and even his early Bronson films are pretty good. "The Mechanik", specially, is a gem.

[Yaddo 42]

I've seen it but just found it too muddled to engage with very much. I was expected John Le Carre not James Bond, but it didn't even work on either level. Shame to waste such a great cast.

I know my local Hollywood Video had it stocked in the Clasics section, I used to wonder if when Hollywood Video Central Command classified their films for the franchises they made the juadgement call based on the cast or that the back panel description claimed it was an espionage classic.

I'd recommend seeking out Burt Lancster and Paul Scofield in John Frankenheimer's "The Train" instead. Or other Cold War spy films like "Three Days of the Condor" or "The Spy who came in from the Cold".

[The Burgomaster]

I have both THE TRAIN and 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR on DVD, but I've never seen THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD.  THE TRAIN is great.  3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR has it's moments, but tends to drag in some spots.  I think it is slightly better than SCORPIO, but not much.