Topaz
Critics, ticket buyers, and even Hitchcock himself had mixed feelings about 1969’s Topaz, a Cold War thriller adapted from Leon Uris’s bestseller. Though the film relied on European stars like Michel Piccoli, Philippe Noiret and Krimi queen Karin Dor, the Hitchcock touch won over American audiences. The press got on board too: Sir Alfred took home the Best Director award from the National Board of Review.
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About Daniel Kremer
San Francisco filmmaker Daniel Kremer has provided audio commentary tracks for Kino Lorber, Shout! Factory, AGFA, and Scorpion disc releases, and essays for Twilight Time special editions. His acclaimed epic-length film Overwhelm the Sky (2019), adapted from a 1799 American Gothic novel, was screened internationally in classic roadshow format, complete with overture, intermission, and printed souvenir programs. These deluxe screenings received many accolades before Kino Lorber acquired distribution rights. Kremer's book Sidney J. Furie: Life and Films was published through Patrick McGilligan's Screen Classics Series in 2015. He is currently under contract at Oxford University Press for the first book about Joan Micklin Silver. His other films include the independent dramas Raise Your Kids on Seltzer (2015) and Ezer Kenegdo (2017). He enjoys doing commentary tracks with fellow TFH guru Allan Arkush.
Whenever the Cuban agent was onscreen, I kept hearing “They’re on double-secret probation!”
Great commentary (as usual!) One minor correction… from all I have read, TOPAZ was a major money loser and TORN CURTAIN was a solid success, if a bit below expectations considering the stars and director.