Beyond the Curtain

BEYOND THE CURTAIN is a Cold War thriller that absolutely pales in comparison to that classic of the genre, THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE WORLD, although it does contain a mildly similar, behind-the-curtain type plot. But where SPY excelled, BEYOND THE CURTAIN merely plods along endlessly until a fitfully exciting climax. I'll give this film credit where it's due, however; the early scenes with the plane diversion are quite suspenseful and hide what was obviously a low budget. The ever middle aged-looking Richard Greene (SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST) is the solid - or perhaps that should be stolid - hero who gets involved in the life of Eva Bartok (BLOOD AND BLACK LACE), a stewardess with family living in East Germany.

Once the action shifts behind the Iron Curtain it really should be suspenseful and exciting, but instead it just sort of plods along for a little. Don't get me wrong, it's not exactly bottom of the barrel stuff, it's just not particularly exciting. I notice that this film was put out by the unheard-of 'Welbeck Film Distributors' - something to do with the notorious Harry Alan Towers perchance? At least BEYOND THE CURTAIN picks up towards the climax, set in some disused tunnels, which at least has the suspense and action missing elsewhere. Marius Goring (THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY) is a good choice for the antagonist although Bartok ends up grating on the nerves throughout with her incessant screaming and stupid behaviour. As Cold War thrillers go, though, BEYOND THE CURTAIN is only average entertainment.