Telefon

At least the Cold War fired Hollywood's imagination, which is more than can be said for the first East-West détente picture (from the producer of Dr Strangelove). Russian agents planted as ordinary US citizens years earlier are suddenly activated via Telefon by a crazy unreconstructed Stalinist (Pleasence), and perform sundry kamikaze sabotage missions. Moscow is embarrassed, and sends in Bronson to team up with Remick, in fact a double agent. Not unlike the 'sleeper' agents, Bronson gives a strong impression of deep-hypnosis throughout, thereby suggesting possible plot twists infinitely more interesting than those provided in the dull script by Peter Hyams and Stirling Silliphant. Most disappointing is Siegel's contribution: he, of all directors, should have been able to inject some life into the proceedings, but this is his most nondescript outing in years.