[Tall Guy]

BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN – my third or fourth viewing, enjoy it more every time, despite its flaws and Shostakovich inaccuracies. Things I really like about it:

Michael Caine at his zenith as a spy, just a few years away from his gangsterish best in Get Carter and slightly more bitter than in the first two Palmer films.

Karl Malden and Ed Begley as the demented Americans with very different agendas.

A strong supporting cast including Valdez Sheybal, Oscar Homolka, Françoise Dorléac.

A great and motley set of minor roles, including Susan George as a little girl on a train in her first film, Michael Caine’s brother as a postie, and the voice of Donald Sutherland.

Ken Russell’s dynamic direction. Even though this was a reluctant gig for him some of the camera-pointing is exceptional. Kudos of course for cinematographer Billy Williams and production designer Syd Cain.

Richard Rodney Bennett’s grandiose score, lots of pianos, lots of atmosphere.

The vehicles! A stretched Zodiac is the automotive highlight, but Canberras doubling as Soviet aircraft, the troop carriers in the incursion into Latvian, marvellous stuff.

I also enjoy knowing that the Shostakovich symphony described by Colonel Stok with patriotic tears in his eyes as the 7th (The “Leningrad”) is actually the final movement of the 11th. Although the “Invasion” theme from the monumental first movement of the 7th is actually played (under Mravinsky, should you care) while General Midwinter’s troops are being mobilised.

I’m not going to dwell on its weaknesses, feel free to mention them if you feel you need to 🙂