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Topaz

Topaz

Drama · Thriller · 1969

Copenhagen, Denmark, 1962. When a high-ranking Soviet official decides to change sides, a French intelligence agent is caught up in a cold, silent and bloody spy war in which his own family will play a decisive role.

Movie details

Topaz

“Hitchcock takes you behind the actual headlines to expose the most explosive spy scandal of this century!”

1969 Drama · Thriller 2h 7m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

Copenhagen, Denmark, 1962. When a high-ranking Soviet official decides to change sides, a French intelligence agent is caught up in a cold, silent and bloody spy war in which his own family will play a decisive role.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Topaz?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

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British agent Alec Leamas refuses to come in from the Cold War during the 1960s, choosing to face another mission, which may prove to be his final one.

The Bourne Ultimatum

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The Falcon and the Snowman

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The Bourne Supremacy

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The Courier

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Clear and Present Danger

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Alfred Hitchcock

Written by

Samuel A. Taylor

Frederick Stafford

Frederick Stafford

André Devereaux

Dany Robin

Dany Robin

Nicole Devereaux

John Vernon

John Vernon

Rico Parra

Karin Dor

Karin Dor

Juanita de Córdoba

Michel Piccoli

Michel Piccoli

Jacques Granville

Philippe Noiret

Philippe Noiret

Henri Jarre

Claude Jade

Claude Jade

Michèle Picard

Court is in session

Put Topaz on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.