Crossplot

Plot synopsis:
Roger Moore is Gary Fenn, a talent scout for a London modeling agency who finds the perfect target and calculates the events which mean that only one girl will be good enough for his bosses, a Hungarian Marla Kugash (Lange). He finds her among the anti-war movement in the bohemian depths of swinging London. She is in the company of a young man, Tarquin, who is extremely protective of her and overtly aggressive to Fenn.
The young Hungarian, an illegal refugee from her native homeland, accompanies Fenn to a photoshoot. However she admits she is in fear of her life, and seems disturbed by the presence of her aunt. When she is nearly killed, the girl drops out of sight and Fenn has to go on the run himself, suspected of a separate murder. He locates her to a country house, which turns out to be the home of Tarquin, an aristocrat in spite of his anti-war sentiments.
It is revealed that Marla's aunt is part of a shadowy organisation trying to destabilise the existing world order so they can take over themselves. They will go to any length to try and shut Fenn and Marla up, including sending a helicopter after them. Fenn and his friend manage to escape to London, where they realise that the shadowy movement are planning to assassinate a visiting African head of state in Hyde Park. They manage to foil the plot.

Tags: murder

Review:
Under-rated gem, especially for Roger Moore fans.
Crossplot rattles along at a breakneck pace and is a smart, ingenious and enormously entertaining adventure film.
Roger Moore is great in a pre-Bond role as an advertising executive who hires a beautiful Hungarian girl to pose for some modelling shots.
What he doesn't realise is that she has eavesdropped on an assassination plot and is the target of some killers.The film reminds me a lot of a John Buchan novel, brought up to date in the swinging sixties.
Moore runs from the villains and takes every conceivable route to escape their grasp, fleeing in a classic car, deliberately causing havoc at a wedding, and finally tracking his prey to the scene of their planned atrocity.
It was great to see Roger Moore in his post-Simon Templar pre-Bond role.
Simon Templar would not put himself in such a way like that.
This film, basically a vehicle for Roger Moore, is a 90 minute television-style action adventure film.
Roger Moore plays an advertising executive who utilises an Eastern European girl in a promotional campaign who just happens to be sharing a house with spies and unwittingly discovers their darstadly plot.
This now provides a perfect opportunity for Roger Moore to slip into his Simon Templar/James Bond persona and save the day.This film lies somewhere between an extended Saint episode and an early James Bond movie, but as Roger Moore was the best James Bond, (as we all know), this film is nevertheless enjoyable just for his suave, Mr smooth 1960's London swinger acting.
The original Austin Powers.Nothing exceptional, however this film is reasonably enjoyable in a mild mannered way.
For Roger Moore fans only..
'Crossplot' was Roger Moore's first attempt to return to the big screen after seven years in television as Simon Templar.
It was also too old-fashioned and in a way too much television-like since entire crew consisted of 'The Saint' personnel.
The result is a movie which today can be only suggested for Roger Moore fans.
Moore is doing good job, trying to eliminate as many elements for which he was recognizable as the Saint as it's possible, but still it feels a lot like another 'saintly' adventure.
The script is very predictable and its only great moments are when Moore is let to show his light sense of humour and prove that he does really great in such genres as for instance the 'romantic comedy'.
The opening sequence (my favourite) is very much like if it was taken from all those 'lovely' Cary  Grant movies from the 50s, with Moore at his best, having fun while playing a sort of a less distinguished Brett Sinclair.
The film's weakness seems to be that it's not sure if it's a serious thriller, action picture or maybe a comedy.
There are too many 'romantic' and 'funny' moments in it as for a true action film but on the other hand 'Crossplot's' script seems to be seriously dramatized since at least three people are to die during the film.
Hm, not the best thing, but still worth seeing for Roger Moore  fans..
Faux James Bond Film Gone Awry.
A boyish pre-James-Bond Roger Moore plays advertising executive Gary Fenn in this preposterous tale about uncovering a sinister plot in London.
"Crossplot," directed by Alvin Rakoff, is more 60s nostalgia than exciting movie-making.
The dated costumes and hairstyles, the period dancing and songs, and the misfire mix of comedy and espionage seem like an early Bond film gone haywire.
The flimsy plot gets underway when a photograph is substituted in an advertising proposal, and Moore pursues an elusive model for his campaign.
The scenes between her and Moore lack any chemistry, and the photo shoot destroys her supposed appeal for the advertising as she poses and grins embarrassingly for the camera.
While Martha Hyer looks lovely, well coiffed, and classy as Claudie's aunt, she has little to do but make eyes at Moore and keep her hair in place.The story wanders over London and the English countryside, but the sights offer little distraction from the nonsense.
"Crossplot" does offer a pastiche of scenes culled from other, better movies.
A sequence that takes place in an antique car and period costumes seems like it was lifted from "The Great Chase," but without the talent involved in that film.
Like the Bond films, the villains all have lousy aim, and the mechanics of the plot when it unravels make no sense whatsoever.
A helicopter chase has been included to remind viewers that "From Russia with Love" was a far better film and starred a far better actor.
The scene in which Moore disrupts a wedding is more than an echo of Cary Grant's antics in the auction scene in "North by Northwest." Only die-hard fans of Roger Moore will relish this movie, although he was admittedly more appealing here than in much of his later work.
Either "Crossplot" was made as an audition for Moore to play James Bond or as a tax write-off for its investors.
This really wasn't a good movie.Roger Moore in his pre-James Bond days, one can easily see him taking on Bond here.
For that, it is an interesting look back.But if one is seeking high drama, a good caper, or anything particularly intelligent, this is not your movie..
This movie came on right after The Saint one morning so I left it on, Sir Rogers foray into his six-year long audition for James Bond continues.
I must confess that I watched this movie with the sound down, whilst chatting on the phone, but the helicopter chase across the English countryside was fabulous.Roger Moore was driving a vintage/veteran car across farmland, and the chopper was skimming across the wheat fields, only two or three feet from the ground.Most impressive!The opening of the movie was reminiscent of 28 Days later, in that there was a curiously quiet Westminster Bridge, with the Houses of Parliamnet and Big Ben in view.
Although I know that this film not meant to be like a prelude to Roger Moore playing James Bond, it sure looked like one...though the Bond role would come several years later.
Like Bond, there are lots of hired killers, a murder plot involving a head of state as well as lots of adventure and a sexy woman.
But unlike Bond, this character played by Moore is NOT so perfect.
The results are fair--worth watching but a trifle too long.When the film begins, like Bond you see Gary (Moore) in the arms of a sexy woman.
Unlike Bond, however, he has a day job and soon realizes he must leave for work...leaving a very frustrated woman behind!
Because she apparently knows something that could get her killed...or at least they think she knows something and they are more than willing to silence her for good.In addition to going on just a bit too long, my biggest complaint was the extensive use of cheap and unnecessary rear projected scenes.
For example, instead of going to a horse race, this is projected behind Moore and he acts in front of this screen.
This is sloppy and it clearly looks as if he's acting in front of a screen...which is weird, as they later DID do a horse racing scene on site!
There also is a VERY sloppy helicopter stunt that just looks bad.
Overall, the film is worth seeing...but not nearly as good as a Bond flick..
"Crossplot" is a comedy spy adventure set in London.
Despite its low budget and feeling like a pale imitation of films like "North by Northwest" and "The 39 Steps", with the charming Roger Moore at the helm it is quite entertaining.
The film's fast pace saves it a little because the plot is convoluted and it looks dated in its direction and composition..
Roger Moore hits the swinging 60s as Gary Fenn, an advertising executive, a Lothario and a charmer.A promotion for a major client backfires as the photo of his model gets switched.
Kugash knows too much of their plans which includes assassinating a visiting African dignitary.This spy comedy caper quickly becomes too silly.
Although comparisons are made with James Bond, a role Moore would later fill, this films has more of The Avengers dash about it.
When I was little, I was somewhat fascinated by Roger Moore in The Saint (it was more because of the musical theme...).
As James Bond, he is the least convincing of all the actors who have played it (well, tied with Daniel Craig).
There's no plot in the movie, it's an annoying waste of time.
While this has been likened to a James Bond adventure (which star Roger Moore was still four years away from first tackling), it actually plays more like a tenth-rate copy of an Alfred Hitchcock suspenser  and, specifically, NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)-meets-THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1956).In fact, Moore is an advertising executive who unwittingly runs into a person involved in deadly political games  model Claudie Lange (who, amusingly, is depicted as being constantly famished!).
Incidentally, her equally attractive aunt (Martha Hyer) is revealed to be the chief villainess of the piece (along with Bond-Moore's future superior 'M' himself, Bernard Lee!) intent on assassinating a visiting South African leader  as always in the most public of places (in this case, Hyde Park) and synchronized to take place during the customary 21-gun salute.
Two other very obvious borrowings from NORTH BY NORTHWEST are a helicopter chase (imitating the legendary crop-dusting sequence) and the rather funny disruption of a church wedding recalling the auction scene in the Hitchcock classic where Cary Grant was similarly drawing attention to himself in order to stall his pursuers!
Also in the cast are Alexis Kanner as a would-be decadent lord who actually advocates peace and ultimately emerges to be on the side of the good guys, as well as Hammer regular Francis Matthews playing a hit-man for Hyer {sic}.
Moore having just come off "The Saint" (a series in which director Rakoff was also involved), this still has that bland TV look to it  despite the rather incongruous Swinging London backdrop.
The film includes mild dollops of style, wit, sexiness, action and suspense  all of which were prime features of NORTH BY NORTHWEST in particular, but which were also part and parcel of the Bond saga.
In the long run, taken on its own merits, CROSSPLOT is a harmless time-waster but one that has added value if seen as a transition between Moore's trademark personae i.e. Simon Templar aka "The Saint" and James Bond aka 007..
Crossplot is an energetic yet disjointed blend of Hitchcockian romantic thriller, slapstick caper and spy thriller action gimmickry which must have looked pretty hackneyed by 1969 but now just about holds up on period charm value.
Yep, yep and thrice yep.Made in 1968, the film manages to refract, despite its general frothiness, some of the darker events of the era  the Grosvenor Square riot, troubles in post-colonial Africa, political assassinations  but never takes itself seriously for a moment.
Moore plays a dashing advertising executive (shades of Cary Grant in North by Northwest) caught up in the plotting of a sinister international organisation bent on creating disorder and chaos so as to sweep aside 'decadent democracy'.
Martha Hyer is the Hitchcock blonde (and obligatory token American) whilst Claudie Lange, an Italian who made few English language films, is the feisty (and hungry) Hungarian model who the sinister types are pursuing.It was the first project Moore worked on after completing his last series of The Saint and many of the personnel involved were veterans of that long running show.
Unfortunately, it's quite apparent that the budget wasn't much in excess of an average Saint episode and the film is generally compromised by a lack of adequate location filming.
A notable exception being the helicopter chase sequence which is well choreographed and distinguished by some great stunt flying.After 6 years as The Saint, Moore could play suave, wry and debonair in his sleep but here he moderates his unflappable Templar persona with a bit of 'confused everyman' and some comedy pratfalls.
Incidentally, for a truly revelatory demonstration of Moore's range as an actor from the gap years between Templar and Bond check out 'The Man Who Haunted Himself'.For some, however, this film will be chiefly of interest for the appearance of Alexis Kanner as the aristocratic leader of the protest movement Marchers for Peace.
Bernard 'M' Lee is wheeled out to lend a bit of James Bond class to the proceedings.
Dudley Sutton uses his psycho-baby features to unsettle Claudie Lange and the forever hangdog David Battley plays a confused groom whose wedding is disrupted by Moore and co.
with, you guessed it, hilarious consequences.If, like me, you enjoy this kind of thing, Crossplot is now available on DVD in the UK (an undistinguished but generally acceptable transfer) for around a fiver.
There are probably more productive ways you could spend 90 minutes of your life but, as one hippy character memorably utters, "what's time, man?".
Set in 1960's London and full of girls in miniskirts and hip young gunslingers who work in advertising - quicker than you can say 'Hey Swinging London!' this lighthearted romp through the world of Espionage and babes sees Roger Moore's womanising character pursuing a Hungarian model across London not realising that he isn't the only person who wants to find her.
Basically an extended episode of 'The Saint' it's fun but not the kind of film you could watch too many times.
Forgettable and technically sloppy but good fun for Moore fans.
This story of a suave ad exec (Roger Moore) getting caught up in an assassination plot never reaches great heights.
As well, the film is blighted by cheap special effects, especially the regular use of obvious rear projection that makes scenes like the death of the chief villain in the action finale laughable instead of captivating.Despite all that, the film is a fun timewaster.
This is partly because the film's plot is fast-paced and inventive enough to keep one interested and the location footage of London (when they're not using rear projection) right at the end of the Swinging Sixties is fascinating to see.But the film's main asset is Moore.
While he was never perceived as a great actor, he always had plenty of charisma and charm and he utilises that to be a likable roguish hero who helps keep one interested throughout.While no classic, 'Crossplot' is a pleasant diversion and especially interesting to see why the producers of James Bond thought Moore would be a good fit for the role..
Crossplot is certainly a product of it's time, a movie that grabs onto the coat tails of Swinging London, just before London threw that colourful coat in the bin.
Dare I say it, many plot elements are lifted straight from North by Northwest, however, star Sir Roger Moore is called upon to be a lot more physical than Cary Grant had been in that movie.Sir Roger Moore, straight from his 7 years in his iconic TV role as Simon Templar in The Saint, plays an advertising man, duped into finding a particular model for an Ad campaign he's trying to secure.
The photo of this model has been 'planted' in his file by people with their own nefarious motives, who want to silence her for what she may or may not know, about a forthcoming assassination attempt on a visiting world leader and Moore's character is dragged further into this web of intrigue when he meets the girl and is wrongfully accused of Murder.
Throw in a few hippies, because after all, it's the sixities, you're left with a quite entertaining caper.The plot, (or crossplot, if I may be allowed drop a pun or two), has a number of obvious holes.
For instance, the whole scheme of the bad guys, relied solely on Moore not looking at the file with the planted photo, before he presented it to his advertising client (Bernard Lee), who turns out to be in it up to his neck anyway.
That's pretty thin for starters.The movie was designed to reinvent Roger Moore as something other than The Saint.
Secondly, the character Moore plays is not as cool under fire as Simon Templar had been and Moore's character is like Cary Grant's Roger Thornhill.
This is where the comparisons to North by Northwest can be made.A) An innocent ad man in the wrong place at the wrong time B) wrongfully accused of a murder must now clear his name whilst trying to stay alive C) uses an attention seeking obnoxious way to escape from would be assassins in a public place.
D) There is also a Mcguffin, in North by Northwest, it was the fictional George Kaplan, here it is the Hungarian model.I can only bring myself to give this a 7 because it is so obviously filmed on a shoestring budget, that the movie fails to be convincing.
It has all the hallmarks and feel of a Saint TV episode, which is not surprising given that almost to a man, the entire production crew that had worked on The Saint worked on this movie.
In fact, had it not been for the different character name and the fact he was an Ad man, this would have made a great feature length Saint story.The real thrill, as always is watching the great Sir Roger Moore in the lead role, However, if you want to see Moore at his best when he wasn't Ivanhoe, The Saint, Lord Brett Sinclair or James Bond, then you need to watch Moore's next movie, the darker, more serious, The Man Who Haunted Himself, made the following year.
This is a great example of a TV crew on a TV budget trying to make a theatrical movie and for the most part, they succeed admirably.