Topaz

PG

Now Playing

2h 5m

Mystery & Thriller

List

69%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

36%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

When a Soviet official defects to the United States, he brings with him claims that Russia is using Cuba as a staging ground for nuclear missiles. CIA agent Michael Nordstrom (John Forsythe) enlists the help of French spy André Devereaux (Frédérick Stafford) to find out if the official's claims are true. Not only do the agents discover that the Soviet's suspicions are valid, but they also find out that a French spy ring known as "Topaz" is working with the Russians to uncover NATO secrets.

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Philip Strick

Sight & Sound

Whatever doubts there may be about what drew Hitchcock to the novel by Leon Uris, there is no doubt at all that he enjoyed enormously the rearrangement of it to suit himself.

May 13, 2020

Full Review

TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

At 70, Hitchcock seems suddenly to have forgotten his own recipe.

Oct 11, 2015

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Few directors are capable of this kind of structural experimentation so late in their careers, and Hitchcock deserves much credit for his audacity.

Oct 11, 2015

Full Review

Harvey G. Cox

Tempo (National Council of Churches)

When a film proceeds on shaky moral assumptions (good, clean-cut, serious Americans vs. unkempt, cigar-smoking, bearded Cubans), and when it never allows its characters to become persons, even the suspense is gone.

Jan 7, 2021

Full Review

Richard Whitehall

Los Angeles Free Press

Hitchcock's Topza, despite Maurice Jarre's score and that lumbering Leon Uris bestseller behind it, may not be of vintage quality but it's his best film since Psycho, and gets him splendidly into the seventies.

Jan 16, 2020

Full Review

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

'60s Hitchcock spy movie has constant peril, violence.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 16, 2019

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Shaun E

Topaz is a film that left me conflicted. I watched the version with the 'airport ending' The overall storyline was fairly strong, but let down by this weak ending that could have been so much more. From what I have read, I am not sure that the other filmed endings were any better. I would have liked to see the bad guy sweat a bit. In terms of pace, the tempo is the film is fairly even, although perhaps a little long. There are few meaningful action scenes and so the story needs to work hard to drive the film forward, which it does reasonably well. The cast is not the strongest with a lot of weight on Frederick Stafford as the leading man in the film. He plays this role more than adequately and the film is clearly centred around him, but you do have to wonder if a more seasoned actor would have made more of the role. If I could, I would have given the film 3 1/4 stars. It felt better than just a three, but I wouldn't be recommending this to anyone other than diehard Hitchcock fans.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/14/22

Full Review

Liam D

The Master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock (Jamaica Inn, Under Capricorn) takes on espionage isn't as classics as his most well known thrillers but it's an interesting movie in his filmography

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Topaz is generally considered to be one of Hitchcock's weaker films, and yet I thought it was really terrific espionage thriller. After a Russian man offers some valuable information to the Americans, CIA operative Michael Nordstrom enlists the help of the French, in the form of French spy Andre Deveroux (perfectly played by Frederick Stafford). The film opens with a classic spy sequence in Copenhagen, whilst the Russian and his family defect to the west, where they eventually reveal that Soviet missiles (with nuclear warheads) are to be placed in Cuba. Needing physical evidence, Nordstrom persuades Deveroux to find pictures of the missiles, which are supposedly in a briefcase in Harlem. This particular sequence is one of Hitchcock's best; tension filled, and constantly exciting, leaving you with no inkling into the way it will end. Topaz, which is based on a 1967 novel of the same name, maintains its vigour and anxiety for its duration, and for my money isn't to be sniffed at in the way it perhaps has. As far as Cold War espionage thrillers go, it's one that's well worth a rewatch if you previously dismissed it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Since I can't even remember what was happening in this movie, I will get straight to the point. This has to be one of the most boring movies I have ever watched. An interesting premise set in the Cold War ultimately ruined by stupid performances, awful pacing, boring screenplay, too many characters/ subplots/ events to follow, Hitchcock's clichéd forced romance and a lot of propaganda against communists. It might have enough tense moments to be count on one hand and technical aspects of the films are nice, like the soundtrack and photography, but this movie is proof that you can't trust critics who say that Hitchcock is the all time greatest director, because he isn't. With the exception of masterpieces like Psycho, The Birds, Rebecca, Vertigo, Strangers on a Train, North by Northwest and Rear Window, his filmography is mediocre, to say the least.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Thriller without any thrill. Not very Hitchcockian and the half baked way this was done suggests Hitchcock was not hugely motivated to do this film. Decent enough plot but tedious characters played by tedious actors. The only one to bring his character to life was John Vernon as Rico Parra. Other than that nothing positive to report.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Cuban missile crisis thriller spy caper set mostly in Paris. Beautiful scenery including the cast. Enjoyable and plausible as it includes much based on real events.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Frédérick Stafford

André Devereaux

John Forsythe

Michael Nordstrom

Dany Robin

Nicole Devereaux

John Vernon

Rico Parra

Karin Dor

Juanita de Cordoba

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Topaz: Official Clip - Portrait of a Dead Traitor

2:31

Topaz: Official Clip - A Ring of Spies

2:33

Topaz: Official Clip - Topaz Exposed

2:33

Topaz: Official Clip - The Red Case

2:38

Topaz: Official Clip - Death Discovered

2:42

Topaz: Official Clip - Presents and Passion

2:55

Topaz: Official Clip - The Purple Dress

2:53

Topaz: Official Clip - This Cannot Be Escaped

3:04

Topaz: Official Clip - A Woman in Cuba

2:33

Topaz: Official Clip - I Will Raise Such Hell

2:05

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Synopsis

When a Soviet official defects to the United States, he brings with him claims that Russia is using Cuba as a staging ground for nuclear missiles. CIA agent Michael Nordstrom (John Forsythe) enlists the help of French spy André Devereaux (Frédérick Stafford) to find out if the official's claims are true. Not only do the agents discover that the Soviet's suspicions are valid, but they also find out that a French spy ring known as "Topaz" is working with the Russians to uncover NATO secrets.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Samuel A. Taylor, Leon Uris
Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1969, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 2h 5m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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