Telefon (1977)
Movie Info
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Cast
as ''Bortsov''
as ''Barbara''
as Nikolai Dalchimsky
as Dorothy Putterman
as ''Colonel Malchenko''
as Marie Wills
as General Strelsky
as Harley Sandburg
as Emma Stark
as Doug Stark
as Mrs. Hassler
as Carl Hassler
as Harry Bascom
as Father Stuart Diller
as Mrs. Maloney
as Lt. Alexandrov
as Dalchimsky's Mother
as William Enders
as TV Newsman
as TV Reporter
as TV Anchorwoman
as Appliance Store Clerk
as Gas Station Attendant
as Doctor
as Hotel Receptionist
as Maitre d'
as Nurse
as Navy Lieutenant
as Petty Officer
as Radar Operator
as Highway Patrolman
as Highway Patrolman
as Martin Callender
as Airport Clerk
as Taxi Driver
as Hot Rod Kid
as Russian Steward
as Hockey Player
as Hockey Player
as Tourist Family
as Tourist Family
as Tourist Family
as Tourist Family
as Mrs. Wills' Child
as Mrs. Wills' Child
Critic Reviews for Telefon
All Critics (12) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (8)
Instead of winding tighter and tighter, as a suspense story should, Telefon just winds down, rather like -- come to think of it -- a phone call between two people who don't really have much to say to each other.
Following Telefon is about as thrilling as being kept on hold for the better part of the day.
Tyne Daly is notable as a CIA staffer. Remick's teaming with Bronson is a graceful one for both players.
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.
To describe Telefon as synthetic is to take it more seriously than it's taken by anyone connected with it.
Apart from a certain energy evident in the cutting, you'd never know it was the work of Don Siegel, a generally excellent action director.
Audience Reviews for Telefon
Telefon is an intriguing spy thriller from Don Siegel, and while it does have its moments, it also falls short of expectations. It just lacks that extra something seen in other Siegel films.
The plot is a good one and it has a ton of potential. The Soviet Union has placed 50+ brainwashed sleeper agents all over the United States and suddenly, one by one, they begin to carry out their purpose of blowing up key military installations. I say that is a great concept for a spy movie.
The first 20 minutes are great as it involves the telephone calls, in which the culprit delivers the "trigger" phrases, to set the sleeper agent in motion. These "trigger" phrases are what Tarantino uses in his movie Deathproof. The main character of Charles Bronson doesn't show up until the 20 minute mark and that is where the film begins to lose its pizazz. The rest of the film focuses less on the sleeper agents and more on Bronson's attempt to stop the culprit from triggering the rest of them. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but watching the agents get the telephone calls and carrying out their missions are the high points of this picture.
Charles Bronson is a little flat. If you combine this with Don Siegel's directing you get a movie that doesn't live up to the hype. Fortunately, the supporting cast gets the job done. Donald Pleasance is a good "trigger" man and Lee Remick is a beautiful partner for Bronson. Tyne Daly gives a solid performance as a computer wiz, but her part of the story feels incomplete and unnecessary.
Telefon may not be great, but it is still a better than average movie that Charles Bronson or Donald Pleasance fans may want to check out.
Super Reviewer
Assassins living as normal Americans are programed to kill when they are given a certain phrase (I'll think of the word later and replace this... what the hell is the word I'm looking for? Let's just say a "trigger" word). Like Manchurian Candidate if Bronson had been there to kick all kinds of ass.
Super Reviewer
A rather flat and dour cold war thriller starring a rather flat and dour Charles Bronson as a Russian agent sent to kill a cell of sleeper agents who are activated by a fanatical Stalinist. It's an interesting idea, but none of Siegel's trademark intensity and panache is in evidence and Bronson is at his least charismatic.
Super Reviewer
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