10 Underrated Spy Thrillers From The 1970s You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

The The 1970s were an excellent time to be a fan of the spy thriller genre. Franchises such as the James Bond films were increasingly popular, with five Bond films being released in that decade alone (including favorites from the Roger Moore era, such as Live and let die And The spy who loved me). 007 isn’t the only force to be reckoned with in the genre, though. Other main features, viz 3 days of the condor and Francis Ford Coppola’s The conversationAlso flourished on the scene, making spy thrillers a favorite genre across the country.

Of course, not every spy film received the same level of acclaim as The Heat. Because so many of this type of film were released at the same time, many great ones managed to fly under the radar. sad, These films never seemed to get the attention they rightly deserved. Now, when looking back on this era in the film industry, it is essential to take a look at the more underappreciated spy thrillers of the 1970s, and remember that the genre goes far beyond James Bond.

10

Telephone (1977)

Directed by Don Siegel

What if there was a whole network of secret agents who had no idea they were secret agents? The 1977 spy thriller, PhoneExplore the answer to this troubling question. The story of the film revolves around The idea that the Soviet Union planted an assortment of brainwashed sleeper agents across the United States. Upon hearing a predetermined code phrase, the agents would suddenly enter a hypnosis-like state, and blindly begin working to violently destroy their assigned location in the US.

The film stars Charles Bronson as Grigory Borsov, a K.G.B. Mainly with a photographic memory. When the tensions of the Cold War begin to ease, the Soviet Union no longer wants to expose the sleeper agents. However, when the book with all The code phrases fall into the wrong handsIt’s up to Borzov to get it back before it’s too late. Phone Has a unique, intriguing plot, sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the end.

9

The Mackintosh Man (1973)

Directed by John Huston

Based on Desmond Bagley’s novel The Freedom Trap, The Mackintosh Man is a 1973 spy thriller set at the height of the Cold War. The film stars Academy Award winner Paul Newman Like Joseph Rearden. Rearden is a complex, multilayered lead character. The former thief who became an intelligence agent is tasked with getting caught and imprisoned as a means to infiltrate an espionage organization with various members in the same prison.

Things move quickly as Rearden struggles to keep his true identity a secret. Despite being a powerful, captivating film, The Mackintosh Man Often gets overshadowed by other major features in Newman’s decades-long filmography, such as Cool hand Luke And Road to corruption.

so too, The film also comes from a director with a long line of prestigious works. Before The Mackintosh ManJohn Huston was known for critically acclaimed films like The Maltese Falcon And The treasure of the Sierra Madre. Huston’s storytelling skills and Newman’s impressive performance make The Mackintosh Man An underappreciated gem of the spy thriller genre.

8

Avalanche Express (1979)

Directed by Mark Robson

Mark Robson’s 1979 spy thriller, Avalanche ExpressIs An exciting film about a CIA. agent tasked with protecting a senior Russian official Who made the risky decision to defect to the West. The duo’s belief that taking a train would be their safest means of traveling across Europe quickly proves to be misguided, and the ride winds up being anything but peaceful. Together, the pair must face an avalanche and an aggressive team of Soviet agents to get off the train alive.

For tragic reasons, Avalanche Express It was quite a historic film. The action-packed feature finally became The final film for both director Mark Robson and actor Robert ShawPerhaps best known for his work in Jaws And The Sting. Both died tragically in 1978, before the film could be released. Avalanche Express Serves as a thrilling tribute to these two men, and the massive impact they had on the film industry.

7

The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972)

Directed by Lamont Johnson

The tagline for The Groundstar Conspiracy suggests that the film is an excellent choice “only if you like gripping suspense and surprise endings,” and it confidently delivers on that promise. Lamont Johnson’s 1972 thriller begins A botched sabotage attempt at a secret research facility.

The resulting explosion leaves John Welles seriously injured, and claims to have no memory of not only what he was doing in the facility, but of his entire life. This leaves the difficult government official, Tucson, to get to the bottom of this strange situation. The Groundstar Conspiracy Creates a fun twist on the typical spy thriller By including the still mysterious element of the protagonist’s unknown backstory.

What really makes this film a standout, however, is its ending. The film’s conclusion is an impressive blend of cleverness, emotion and excitement, one that is bound to make viewers wonder what they would have done if they were in the character’s shoes. Moreover, the clever foreshadowing of the surprise ending makes The Groundstar Conspiracy Even more enjoyable on a rewatch.

6

The Black Windmill (1974)

Directed by Don Siegel

The Black Windmill is a 1974 spy thriller by Don Siegel, who also directed Phone. Although it remains an exciting spy film, The Black Windmill Plays much more heavily into the family dynamic than most members of the genre. The protagonist is Major John Tarrant, A British intelligence officer who is forced to take matters into his own hands when his son is kidnapped And held for a massive ransom.

Similar to the 2008 film, Taken, The Black Windmill Explores the incredible lengths that a parent will go to to protect their child. The main role in The Black Windmill is played by Michael Caine, who powerfully captures the relentless intensity of a parent whose child is threatened.

Given the vast extent of Caine’s filmography, which includes six Oscar-nominated performances, it’s not surprising that The Black Windmill was fairly overshadowed by some of his other works. However, Caine’s performance and The film’s willingness to explore family dynamics in a spy-based setting make it a worthwhile watch.

5

Zeppelin (1971)

Directed by Etienne Perier

In the First World War, Zeppelin is an exciting, dramatic spy film about a man confronted with a major decision about his loyalty. The protagonist, Lieutenant Geoffrey Richter-Douglas, has strong ties to both Britain and Germany, and is hesitant when offered the offer to leave his position in the British Army and become a German agent.

Having assumed the role after being instructed to avoid defecting in Germany, things become even more complicated when Richter-Douglas is tasked with piloting a German Zeppelin on a mission to steal sensitive documents from Britain. There are many elements that make Zeppelin A unique member of the spy thriller genre.

First, the emphasis it places on issues of loyalty for the protagonist makes the film a complex character study, certainly giving more depth to its characters than many spy movies. The The setting of World War I is also an interesting change of paceGiven that most spy films of the ’70s tend to rely on elements related to the Cold War as the central conflict. Plus, most obviously, the colossal airship on which much of the film is set is certainly a sight to behold.

4

Doll on a Chain (1970)

Directed by Geoffrey Reeve

After a triple murder, an American named Paul Sherman (played by Sven-Bertil Taube) is sent to Amsterdam to investigate the drug smuggling ring believed to be responsible. Finding the local police unable to handle the rampant drug problem alone, Sherman teams up with an undercover agent to fix things once and for all. This is the basis of Doll on a chainA British spy film directed by Geoffrey Reeve.

The action-packed film is based on the similarly-titled novel by Alistair MacLeanOne of the most popular thriller authors of all time. While Doll on a chain is packed with thrilling sequences from start to finish, one scene in particular is a must-see for fans of the genre.

During the build up to the film’s climax, Sherman finds himself in hot pursuit of a criminal named Meegeren (played by Vladek Sheybal). What’s next A thrilling high-speed chase/shootout through a series of canalswith each man commanding a speedship. The scene, which was directed separately by Don Sharp, had a lasting impact on action-based cinema, and even inspired a similar scene in the Bond film Live and let die.

3

The Intercine Project (1974)

Directed by Ken Hughes

in can use, The Internet ProjectRobert Eliot realized that drastic measures must be taken to erase his shady connections before he could start a new job for the United States government. The cunning Elliot hatches a plan to have all four of his connections kill each other on the same night, in order to guarantee that none of them are ever able to discover the truth about his espionage.

This dark, exciting film keeps viewers constantly wondering whether the plan will succeed, and whether anyone will survive to the end. The Internet Project is very different from most films in the spy thriller genre, although it is no less captivating by any means. Unlike in a typical espionage film, The main character of The Internet Project Is not one that the audience really hopes will succeed.

Elliot, played by Oscar winner James Coburn, is clearly a shady individual, but regardless of whether you hope his scheme succeeds or fails, it’s practically impossible to stop watching. The creative story and chilling ending make up The Internet Project A hidden gem in the thriller world.

2

The Odessa File (1974)

Directed by Ronald Neame

Based on Frederick Forsyth’s novel of the same name, The other file goes A reporter who finds himself playing a vital role in the downfall of a former concentration camp commander in Germany. Jon Voight plays the protagonist, Peter Miller, on his journey fueled by revenge, determination and grief.

The film is very complex and intriguing, exploring the ways in which a nation is still influenced by war even decades after its conclusion. The other file stands out as A spy movie in which the main character is not actually a spy. At the beginning of the film, Miller is just a reporter (and not even a high-ranking one at that).

Over the course of the other file, He is constantly thrown deeper and deeper into the world of espionage, something he probably never imagined that he would get involved in. This gives the film a unique spin, and encourages viewers to wonder how they would fare if they were in the same situation as Miller.

1

Scorpio (1973)

Directed by Michael Viner

Michael Winer’s 1973 thriller, Scorpio goes Two trained assassins caught in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The two men are Cross, a seasoned assassin for the CIA.

Their bond is tested when the CIA assigns Scorpio the duty of killing Cross, who is believed to be working with Soviet forces. The film stars Academy Award winner Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon as Cross and Scorpio, respectively. Aided by strong performances from the lead actors, The most captivating element of Scorpio is the dynamic between the main characters.

The idea of ​​an assassin being tasked with killing his mentor not only paves the way for a lot of action, but also adds a deeper complexity to both characters. The audience is not sure of who will survive, but of what They want to survive. The complex dynamic of Scorpio and Cross makes this film a nail-biter from start to finish.