Masquerade

1965

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

List

40%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

29%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

The British government is in negotiations with the Middle Eastern oil-rich nation of Ramaut to allow in British drilling agencies, but Ramaut withdraws from the talks, leaving Britain desperate. British Col. Drexel (Jack Hawkins) is enlisted in a covert operation to kidnap the Ramaut prince, Jamil (Christopher Witty), in order to force an oil agreement between the countries. Drexel brings in American David Frazer (Cliff Robertson) to assist, but Frazer finds someone else has plans for Jamil.

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William J. Nazzaro

Arizona Republic

Not great by any means, but a film with more than its share of imagination and style.

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Part of the problem is that its satiric edge is rarely sharp enough.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 9, 2021

Full Review

Wendy Michener

Maclean's Magazine

Masquerade is also pretty frank about its origins...none of it is as convincing, as inevitable as the plots bottled in Bond.

Jul 16, 2019

Full Review

Tony Mastroianni

Cleveland Press

In a period in which the screen has been frilled with nonheroes, Robertson is delightful as a nonhero in heroic situations.

Nov 20, 2003

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A sometimes funny satire spoof on spy films.

Rated: C

May 28, 2002

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Audience Member

Great scenery, cast of hundreds, good actors... but an incredibly stupid plot that did not hold together. Don't watch it. Chose a B&W film noir.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Tom M

This may be the worst movie of the 60's. The premise draws you in : American and British agents rescue a 14 year old Saudi prince from being assassinated to protect Western oil interests. Sounds like a good movie. That takes 20 minutes. Everything afterward is nonsense - every character changes sides 3 or 4 times. All three major characters are killed , only to come back, having only been 'grazed' or 'knocked out'. Oh ... and it's billed as a comedy !??

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/09/20

Full Review

Frances H

Fun spy spoof flick, with Cliff Robertson and Jack Hawkins, plus a lot of great Brit character actors you would recognize if you have watched the Sean Connery Bond films. Worth a watch!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/20

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Basil Dearden

Director

Cliff Robertson

David Frazer

Jack Hawkins

Colonel Drexel

Marisa Mell

Sophie

Michel Piccoli

George Sarrassin

Bill Fraser

Dunwoody

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Synopsis

The British government is in negotiations with the Middle Eastern oil-rich nation of Ramaut to allow in British drilling agencies, but Ramaut withdraws from the talks, leaving Britain desperate. British Col. Drexel (Jack Hawkins) is enlisted in a covert operation to kidnap the Ramaut prince, Jamil (Christopher Witty), in order to force an oil agreement between the countries. Drexel brings in American David Frazer (Cliff Robertson) to assist, but Frazer finds someone else has plans for Jamil.

Director: Basil Dearden
Screenwriter: Michael Relph, William Goldman
Production Co: Michael Relph Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2016
Runtime: 1h 42m