Classic detective for the evening. The insurance company hires a private investigator to investigate the death of several ships owned by shipowner Kurt Valyan. The only lead is a certain Walter Green, who is believed to have died after a plane crash in the Swiss Alps.
A curious detective thriller hails from the 60s with a characteristic jazz sound in the background. The film can be ranked as a neonoir, although it will take the genre here a little. The main intrigue is quite simple and the alignment of forces is known quite quickly. But it's interesting to watch the cat-and-mouse game and the moves that the opposing sides make. Closer to the final there is a somewhat unexpected plot twist. And another plus of the picture are really good and caustic dialogues.
Patrick O'Neill is a cynical detective with unconventional investigative techniques. Although his magnetism in terms of attracting female attention to him is questionable, his duet with heroine Joan Hackett delivers the necessary chemistry. Of course, a decent age difference is striking (but similar is traditional for Hollywood in those years). Herbert Lom, what is called "dog ate" in the roles of polite villains. And in the finale comes heavy artillery in the face of John Gilgud.
Against the backdrop of mountainous alpine views and narrow streets of Zurich, a detective drama unfolds. A decent script, not a bad cast. As a retro detective for the evening, this film is very good in its quality.
7 out of 10