Disturbing yet enthralling

Boring

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Yet another Bond/Harry Palmer homage' or pastiche in parts. The Black Windmill has now become a Don Siegel timeless classic. Overshadowed by miles by Dirty Harry in its day, TBW was a rough diamond twinkling in its wake. Fabulous casting unparallelled and the acting was timed and placed to the second. This movie based on the Egleton novel was true to form in all areas. The story of the Whitehall spook having his son kidnapped while bosses had their own mits in the pot, is compelling and addictive. The film theme score in fairness appears to be a transposed rehash of Fear Is The key (Alastair Mclean) However the genius of Roy Budd is allowed these minor trivialities in such circumstances. Caine is sheer brilliant in his usual manner in these roles, along with Suzmann/Vernon and a whole host of luvvies that went on to stellar TV careers this really is a great "Cribs" movie.

Roger Ebert amongst others expressed their disappointment at THE BLACK WINDMILL on its release . Much of this disappointment is down to the director being Don Siegel who directed many famous thrillers including INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS , DIRTY HARRY and CHARLEY VARRICK . He is a director well suited to high concept American thrillers but there's something so very stiff upper lip and British about the mis-en- scene of THE BLACK WINDMILL . Someone's son gets kidnapped and his parents discuss it like one of their goldfish has died . You'd think such things as guilt and recriminations would feature heavily but apparently Brits are even less emotional than the pod people in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS There's also a few very , very large plot holes throughout the movie one of the largest of which takes place in the opening sequence . Two young boys go to an airfield to fly their model plane . How earth did the villains know that the children would be appearing at that location ? Probably because if they didn't the film would have started in a completely different way or may not have started at all . When you've got a big name director it's interesting how many people pay no attention to the narrative

I usually enjoy Michael Caine's films, but though this one started promising enough, its second half made the overall effect disappointing. The most dissatisfying aspect was how Tarrant and his wife worked out exactly where their son was being held on the basis of a phone call from the Brighton area and the villain's reference to a "pleasant farm" and two "rather unusual windows"; this defied belief.Other contributors have already noted one witty reference, to "Sean Connery"; there is another, in that the Tarrants rendezvous outside a cinema where "Battle of Britain" (starring Caine) is showing.And wasn't that Richard Attenborough playing the jeweller visited by the two men from New Scotland Yard; this role appears not to feature in the filmographies I've glanced at.

Michael Caine has always been one my favorite actors, but unfortunately he often starred in mediocre-at-best vehicles and had roles that wasted his talents. "Black Windmill" is such a vehicle: long, confusing, flat, nasty, interminable and thoroughly routine. The picture does show some occasional signs of wit (watch for the early scene where the name "Sean Connery" is mentioned), but is really marred by its clumsy editing during the (few) action scenes. Even Caine himself just goes through the motions. At least the movie has the blue-eyed John Vernon, who makes a convincing villain.