Followers

Thursday 16 July 2015

Scacco internazionale (1968) "The Last Chance"

 

 









 
 
The story of "The Last Chance" (a rather poor title, by the way; the original Italian one - "International Chess" - is much better) is so murky that, even after having watched the movie twice, I'm still not sure I've got everything straight. Several plot points are sketchy at best (the captain had five security men protecting him as he was entering the American Embassy in Rome, but he was all alone when he came out?), and one sequence in particular (with three - or are they two - people talking on the phone in some sort of code) is totally puzzling. But the movie has its moments as well: the sequence where the music stops and Liz Barrett is about to enter her husband's study, terrified of what might have happened to him, is very well done, and the ending is quite unconventional. There is also a memorable train vs. car collision, though how the hero, who was trapped inside the car, manages to survive it is anybody's guess! As for Daniela Bianchi, her role for the most part is so thankless (the jealous wife) that you're thinking that either they have completely wasted her, or there must be a big (and obvious) twist about her character. One of those options is indeed true, but let's not spoil it for the few who might be interested in seeing this obscure spy movie. 

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