Reilly - Ace of Spies
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Movie Reviews of Reilly - Ace of Spies
Movie Review: A close look at what spies are really like
Summary: 5 Stars
At a time when the James Bond films were still novel and going strong, as were their imitators, British television viewers were watching a 10.5 hour, 12-part miniseries called "Reilly, Ace of Spies." Based on the biography by Robin Bruce Lockhart, this intriguing series is now available in a boxed set of 4 A&E DVDs (AAE-71748) and makes for some really gripping viewing.
With Sam Neill in the title role, we follow the career of the man who taught British intelligence that if ruthlessness gets the job done, then ruthless spies are what they need. Sidney Reilly, an assumed name as is learned later, remains loyal to friends but not altogether to his employers and casual acquaintances. And if he treats his wives questionably when his job gets in the way, he makes up for it by treating all the other women with great feeling and tenderness.
Having little patience with incompetence on any level, he gets a huge contract for battleships for Russia away from a British firm and to a German firm for which he works, he gets oil concessions, he steals plans by posing as a fire expert in Germany, and he finally tries to make himself head of a provisional government that will overthrow the Bolshevik regime. And so on.
Along the way he runs into two great villains: Basil Zaharov (Leo McKern, who can say more with a look than most actors can with a page of text), and the icy head of Soviet Intelligence Felix Dzerzhinsky (Tom Bell), who has set up a phony organization that pretends to be against Stalin and rakes in millions from rich anti-Bolsheviks all over the world. A frightening moment comes when Stalin (David Burke) orders all in the group to be shot, because even following orders to appear disloyal "is no excuse"! Which is what happens when personal power is far more important than human beings.
Other major characters are Reilly's boss Cummings (Norman Rodway), his fellow agent Hill (Hugh Fraser), and an astute oriental police officer (David Suchet).
Like another two series about spies, "Tinker Tailor" and "Smiley's People," the story is complex, you never quite know at first who is who and who is lying more than the others. Except for some possibly supernatural business towards the end, you watch with both fascination and a vague disgust that this is what many people are really like-and that, from what we see, it is not the meek who are doing any inheriting.
Fascinating and provocative viewing on a definitely "adult" level (i.e., lots of violence and a lot of naked flesh, the latter of which is pretty gratuitous). Neill does a marvelous job of portraying the complex and highly ambiguous main character.
There is an interesting documentary of the real Reilly as a bonus feature, which should be seen after the series, not before.
Movie Review: Lockhart's Ace of Spies
Summary: 5 Stars
This account is a somewhat romantic view of the life of master spy Sidney Reilly, who was the model for Ian Fleming's James Bond. The series attempts to convey the era from the turn of the century in 1900 to post World War 1 Europe and possibly beyond with the activities of a British spy who infiltrated countries and pilfered valuable top secret information to the delight of the British Admiralty. Reilly first appears in Baku, where he has information of a secret report on Russian Oil exploration and info on middle east oil. Another assignment finds him in league with the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese war attack on Port Arthur. He also steals valuable plans from a German firm in charge of making guns for ships by working as a fireman. Later in perhaps the most interesting period, he is involved with representing the British and interacts with Lenin, Dzerzhinsky, and other familiar Bolsheviks during the period of the Russian revolution and executes a grand plot with Lockhart to topple the government in favor of placing himself as the head. Only Kaplan's shooting of Lenin after a factory speech spoils the timing of the revolt, or so we are led to believe. What is great about this series is the insight you receive during a somewhat murky period of Russian history, amist all of the womanizing, drinking, partying and debauchery that our hero engages in during his adventures. This is a VERY romanticized account of Reilly's life and concludes with the idea that he was killed by KGB agents under the charges earlier sentenced in absentia by a Bolshevik court for anit-revolutionary activity. Instead, he may have gone over to the Bolsheviks and may have still been operating during the second world war. His allegiances were always based on how much was being offered but he was still basically a Russian and there was evidence presented after this film was made that pointed to a possible defection. Sam Neill is excellent as Reilly and he has a host of familiar British actors surrounding him that are all veteran character players. This is an excellent work, well worth the viewing.Movie Review: Story of a Man Who Helped Shape the Century...?
Summary: 5 Stars
This mini-series is about the life and times of the master spy Sigmund Rosenbloom, alias Sidney Reilly. While Reilly isn't very well-known, he (supposedly) was deeply involved in several extremely crucial developments of the early 20th Century. With great skill and at great risk, he: played a complicated game against the infamous and powerful "merchant of death" Sir Basil Zaharoff, infiltrated the German weapons industry pre-WWI, helped secure the oil supply for the British Navy (crucial for the conversion from coal), was at the center of an (almost successful) effort to overthrow the Bolsheviks before they solidified their control of Russia, etc. etc. And, if this re-creation is to be believed, he did it all with flair.
It should be pointed out that, unlike James Bond or George Smiley, Sidney Reilly really did exist. He is considered by some to be the first modern secret agent. However, I should also mention that many of the events depicted in this mini-series are of doubtful authenticity. Actually, it's hard to believe that any one person could really have been involved with so many crucial events and done so much. However, I've seen Ian Fleming quoted as saying that compared to Sidney Reilly, James Bond was "nothing special." Perhaps he really was the most important man who almost nobody has heard of. Of course, we will never know exactly what all the true details are, the very nature of what Reilly did was top secret...
Regardless of whether you take this show as documentary or highly-embellished history, it is a marvelous work (despite the look of being filmed on a small budget). Without trying to rehash it, the subject matter couldn't be more interesting, the story-telling more engrossing, or the acting more believable - this is Sam Neill's finest work IMHO. Lots of intrigue, mind games, double-crossing, action and (non-graphic) sex. While not at all appropriate for children (Reilly was really kinky), if you enjoy history, action or spy stories, this is not to be missed. One of the finest shows that's ever been on TV.
Movie Review: Great series. Worth repeated viewing.
Summary: 5 Stars
Sam Neill is in his element as Sidney Reilly (Sigmund Rosenblum) during the Russian revolution. You are never sure whom he is spying for. He is a British spy that was responsible for gaining secrets that assured the Japanese success in their maritime war efforts with the Russians. He later became involved in the Bolshevik revolution. All the time he is making money and we are never sure whether he is just a British spy or a double agent or just out for himself.
Each episode brings him to a different location and/or time where he shows an extraordinary understanding of the political and economic situation that he is in.
A little added plus is where a psychic vividly predicts his death.
Original
Episode # Prod # Air Date Episode Title
____ _______ ________
1. 1- 1 5 Sep 83 An Affair with a Married Woman (90 min)
2. 1- 2 7 Sep 83 Prelude to War
3. 1- 3 14 Sep 83 The Visiting Fireman
4. 1- 4 21 Sep 83 Anna
5. 1- 5 28 Sep 83 Dreadnoughts and Crosses
6. 1- 6 5 Oct 83 Dreadnoughts and Doublecrosses
7. 1- 7 12 Oct 83 Gambit
8. 1- 8 19 Oct 83 Endgame
9. 1- 9 26 Oct 83 After Moscow
10. 1-10 2 Nov 83 The Trust
11. 1-11 9 Nov 83 The Last Journey
12. 1-12 16 Nov 83 Shutdown
The Quiller Memorandum
Movie Review: Ace of Spies, King of Hearts
Summary: 5 Stars
Sidney Reilly really was an international man of mystery and no-one really knew him including his wives and fellow spies. Sam Neil was incredible as Reilly. He showed a man who was elegant, charming and yet so ruthless you could almost see the ice in his veins. He doesn't have a problem with killing and he doesn't have a problem with leaving an incompetent agent behind either. He was a womanizer who could be the ultimate romantic in one scene then simply walk away in the next. One of the most touching scenes in the series is when Reilly's wives and sweethearts all clamor for news of him. He's treated some of these women horribly. One he's turned into a hopeless drunk but they still can't get enough of him. In another scene, one of his conquests calmly faces death rather than betray him. After her death Reilly, the series implies, carries her earrings, the only thing he has left of her on him for the rest of his life.
Reilly has been called the grandfather of the Jame Bond character because by the time young Ian Flemming came along Reilly was a legend in the British spy world. Flemming denied this but Reilly's relationship with his spymaster is very reminiscent of Bond and M and of course there all those women.
Everything about this series is great. The acting is all top notch, the costumes are perfect, the music, especially Romance of the Gadfly, Reilly's theme is unforgettable. This series came on TV when I was a kid and I would rush home every week to get all my homework and any other chore done so I could watch Reilly in peace. It was worth the trouble then and it's worth it now.