How sad is this?

A lot of fun.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Yes, it's one of those so many Eurospy made in the '60s, which amounts to a decent level, acceptable to a demanding spectator. Horst Buchholz (dead in 2003), one of the seven gunmen in "The Magnificent Seven"(1960), is here the beautiful boy who beats and shoot everyone and stays with the girl in the end. The girl is the beautiful Sylva Koscina(dead in 1994), the woman-killer Penelope in "Deadlier Than the Male", here an American agent. Klaus Kinski(dead in 1991), as a villain, as usual, appears too little. Gérard Tichy(dead in 1992), another villain, appears more than him. Last but not least, Mario Adorf, the best actor in the whole film, as in all the movies he played, a living legend, is another villain. Him and the director, Antonio Isasi, are the only still alive. The plot is cheap, as usual, a kidnapped nuclear expert, a lot of ransom money, a lot of Chinese spies, stupid Turkish policemen, etc. But is well done, not bad!

Kelly (Sylva Koscina) is a gorgeous FBI agent who is investigating the disappearance of Professor Pensdergast (Umberto Raho) , director of a major US government research on nuclear energy . She arrives in Istambul where is the prime suspect , Tony Mecenas (Horst Buchholz) , a con who carries out illegal games supported by his hoodlums (Gustavo Ré , Alvaro De Luna) , being pursued by the stiff Inspector Mallouk (Angel Picazo) . In the course of the investigation , Kelly meets Tony , who , moved by the beauty of Kelly and the reward of one million dollars , will help her find the professor . As several international agents and Chinese spies track him , chase him , unarm or undress him , but Tony goes on his dangerous adventures full of action and amusement .Fun and romantic snapshot in time and place in which a swindler falls in love with a beautiful agent . Stirring film in which there are nail-biting action scenes , intrigue , blasts , suspenseful set pieces and two big stars : Buchholz-Koscina , if not much continuity . An agreeable all action sixties Euro-nostalgia trip , being fast paced and rightly developed . An action filled European thriller flick in which the suspicious protagonist falls in love for his investigator and there are some thrilling chases along the way before the final takes a slight twist . Successful thriller that follows the exploits and moving adventures of a rogue trickster , the German Buchholz who played in ¨Magnificent Seven¨ and ¨1, 2 , 3..¨ and a wonderful secret agent , the attractive Croatian actress Koscina . Mid-sixties Istambul comes across as very European locations and serve as an excellent backdrop for most of the action . The plot was a satisfying mix of set pieces and unexpected plot twists . Sympathetic acting by Horst Buchholz as a kind of James Bond as well as a young and adventurous seducer , and stunningly accompanied by the really charming Sylva Koscina . Being a Spanish production here appear several notorious secondaries as Ángel Picazo , Álvaro De Luna , Alberto Dalbés , Gustavo Ré , Luis Induni , Antonio Molino Rojo , Victor Israel and Jorge Rigaud as CIA Chief . Evocative cinematography by Juan Gelpi , including the exotic '60s atmosphere , though a perfect remastering is necessary , because the film copy is washed-out . Being shot in Istambul that is widely and marvelously shown . Lively and catching musical score by Georges Garvarentz . The director was defending his name and career , but also his money in more ways than one , as he was one of the producers investing in the project . Antonio Isasi Isasmendi is a good professional , a craftsman who has directed several films in diverse genres , as adventures and action , especially , such as : The dog 1979 , 1968 Las Vegas, 500 millions , 1963 The mask of Scaramouche and Summertime Killer . "That Man in Istanbul¨ results to be a surprisingly solid little film , including some action scenes very skillfully staged . Decent action/thriller is worth trying . This is a movie that's both entertaining and enlightening . Certainly worth watching if you're in the mood for something other than typical exploitation fare .

I have always been nostalgic about this Euro-Spy film. When very young, I picked up the soundtrack (which is still available if you look for it) and used to listen and dream about exotic locales, adventure, and of course about that special woman that would be a part of it all. I especially like(d) the Ray Anthony song "Love was Right Here all the Time" which plays at the end against a dark screen when the audience is supposed to leave the theater. Just minutes earlier the leading man, Horst Bucholz, had given his heart to the leading lady, then winked at the audience and confided verbally: "It happens to everyone sooner or later." Many in the audience must have smiled and left the matinée filled with no little amount of delight and renewed hope! Also available are lobby cards and a few B&W photos from the movie. If this movie was ever released on VHS in North America, I'm totally unaware of it. In Europe, yes, but apparently many years ago. I finally acquired a copy of this film, dubbed in English, and with Greek subtitles in DVD which had either been taken off Greek television, or a European VHS. My nostalgia was only increased by spending a week in Istanbul myself, as part of the People-to-People Program for "Student Ambassadors," five years after the movie came out. It is Istanbul as I remember it. Twenty-six years later I again journeyed across Turkey and can say that old, freer, almost magical feel that once was Istanbul was largely gone, and the same can be said for all the islands and seacoasts of the Eastern Mediterranean region. So, for me the movie is a fun and romantic snapshot in time.

MASTER PLAN: kidnap scientists and keep the ransom money. The James Bond film this obviously calls to mind first is "From Russia From Love" but, besides the locations, there is very little actual similarity. Horst (the snot-nosed hothead member of the original "Magnificent Seven") stars as a well-known rascally adventurer who is forced to foil the dastardly schemes of a criminal organization after he's targeted as an initial suspect. Koscina offers support as the FBI agent sent in to figure things out; she was in a few such roles in the sixties (see "Hot Enough For June" and "Deadlier Than the Male"). The story jumps around and drags in the first half, as well as being hard to follow. It's also a bit too long at nearly two hours and, as mentioned elsewhere, only washed out prints of the picture seem to be available.The action really picks up in the 2nd half, with Tony (Horst) doing a lot of running around in Istanbul, whether being chased or doing the chasing. At one point, he's thrown off a tower during a fight in the closest we get to a spectacular sequence. The best action bit, though, is when he uses a bulletproof glass table while an assassin takes potshots at him (the killer is played by Kinski in a small, yet memorable role). The action is sort of a mixture of slapstick and straightforward thrills which never really finds the right tone; a lot of it is presented as serious danger, yet Horst also winks at the audience a couple of times. He's probably a bit too cute for Bond fans, strictly for the girls. There's also some surprising (for mid-sixties cinema) bits of female nudity. Hero:6 Villains:5 Femme Fatales:6 Henchmen:4 Fights:5 Stunts/Chases:5 Gadgets:3 Auto:3 Locations:6 Pace:6 overall:5