“What an absolutely marvelous idea.” —Ivan Dragomiloff
Today’s quick review: The Assassination Bureau. Early in the 20th century, aspiring journalist Sonya Winter (Diana Rigg) hires the Assassination Bureau to kill a very special target: Ivan Dragomiloff (Oliver Reed), the Bureau’s own chairman. Seeing an opportunity to clean house, Ivan accepts Sonya’s proposal and goes on the run, traveling across Europe to kill the assassins sent by Lord Bostwick (Telly Savalas), the Bureau’s ambitious vice chairman.
The Assassination Bureau is a classic comedy about a clandestine organization that turns the messy job of assassination into a professional affair. Diana Rigg stars as Miss Winter, a journalist who undertakes to put an end to the Bureau by cutting off its head. Oliver Reed plays opposite her as Ivan Dragomiloff, the Bureau’s suave and beguiling chairman, who uses her challenge as an excuse to purge the Bureau of its more mercenary members.
Romance, adventure, and a dusting of comedy ensue as Sonya and Ivan tour Europe, staying one step ahead of Ivan’s would-be assassins. The film makes light of murder by treating it with the genteel manners of the European upper crust. Assassination turns into a battle of wits: Ivan’s weapons and disguises against the vast resources of his Bureau. This inventive premise provides the backbone for a light, unqiue comedy with a bit of everything.
The Assassination Bureau does have a few faults that diminish its effectiveness. Oliver Reed has the grace and the bearing for the role of Ivan, but he never wears it effortlessly. The debonair charm that’s meant to tie the movie together only appears in small doses. The story itself is fun but not especially memorable. The Assassination Bureau has enough style to sell its unique flavor of adventure, but not enough to make the film sparkle.
The Assassination Bureau is a solid pick for fans of classic comedy. Its amusing premise, antagonistc romance, and gentlemanly sense of adventure all make it a film with a distinct identity and plenty to offer. However, it lacks the quality it needs to truly excel, leaving it merely a decent watch that won’t win many converts. For a classic comedy with better writing and a similar style of romance, try Charade or How to Steal a Million.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a creative premise with decent execution.