The Trouble with Spies | |
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Directed by | Burt Kennedy |
Written by | Burt Kennedy |
Based on | Apple Spy in the Sky by Marc Lovell |
Starring | Donald Sutherland Ned Beatty Ruth Gordon Lucy Gutteridge Michael Hordern Robert Morley |
Cinematography | Alex Phillips Jr. |
Edited by | Warner E. Leighton |
Music by | Ken Thorne |
Production company | |
Distributed by | De Laurentiis Entertainment Group |
Release date |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $6 million[1] |
Box office | $205,507 |
The Trouble with Spies is a 1987 spy comedy film written and directed by Burt Kennedy, and starring Donald Sutherland and Ned Beatty.[2]
The film was shot in 1984, but not released until three years later.[1] It features veteran actress Ruth Gordon's final performances. It was also the final film of Suzanne Danielle.
Plot
[edit]When secret agent George Trent goes missing, spy agency chief Angus sends inept colleague Appleton Porter to the isle of Ibiza to find out why.
Appleton meets a number of guests in Mona Lewis's hotel who were familiar with Trent, but none has a clue what became of him. Appleton himself is totally clueless, nearly being killed a number of times but surviving mainly due to pure dumb luck.
Cast
[edit]- Donald Sutherland as Appleton Porter
- Ned Beatty as Harry Lewis
- Ruth Gordon as Mrs. Arkwright
- Lucy Gutteridge as Mona
- Michael Hordern as Jason Locke
- Suzanne Danielle as Maria Sola
- Robert Morley as Angus
- Gregory Sierra as Captain Sanchez
Production
[edit]The film was financed entirely by Home Box Office, the first production of the pay cable channel’s new theatrical motion picture division.[1] the film, initially titled Trouble at the Royal Rose, was greenlit in the Spring of 1983 and the film had a $6-million budget.[1]
Michael Caine was initially offered $1 million to play the role of Appleton Porter However, Caine turned down the role and actor Donald Sutherland took the part instead.[1]
Based on a novel titled "Apple spy in the sky", one of several spy spoof novels featuring agent Appelton-Porter by author Marc Lovell, all of which feature apple puns, the film was originally to be titled "Trouble at the Royal Rose" (being the name of the British-run Ibiza guesthouse where Appleton-Porter puts up), but by April 1984, it was announced that the title had changed to "The Trouble with Spys", using a deliberate misspelling supposedly because it would look better on theatre marquees.[3] Nevertheless, the trailer "corrected" the spelling to 'spies', as did contemporary posters and as still do most current references, including IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.[4][5]
Home media
[edit]After limited theatrical release HBO Video issued The Trouble With Spies UPC 0026359002830 ISBN 1-55803-0255 on VHS, in 1993. It was released on streaming, but not DVD or Blu-ray.[6]
The poster illustration depicts a Volkswagen Beetle with convertible top yet the film only features the Citroën 2CV.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "The Trouble With Spys [sic]". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "The Trouble with Spies (1987) - Burt Kennedy - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ Kennedy, Burt, The Trouble with Spies (Action, Adventure, Comedy), Donald Sutherland, Ned Beatty, Ruth Gordon, Brigade Productions, HBO Pictures, Home Box Office (HBO), retrieved 2024-05-17
- ^ "The Trouble With Spies | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "The Trouble With Spies (HBO)". Max. 1987. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "The Trouble With Spies - VW Beetle Cabriolet USA 1987". Drivepast Original Movie Posters. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
External links
[edit]- https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/57871
- https://prod-www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/20853/the-trouble-with-spies
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/trouble-spies
- https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/04/movies/film-spies.html
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-08-ca-27312-story.html
- https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/troublewithspies/
- https://www.studiocanal.com/title/the-trouble-with-spies-1987/
- https://ibizafilmcommission.com/videoteca/the-trouble-with-spies/
- The Trouble with Spies at Box Office Mojo
- The Trouble with Spies at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Trouble with Spies at IMDb