The Tamarind Seed (1974)
June 10th 2009 17:21
Directed by:- Blake Edwards.
Starring:- Julie Andrews, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle.
Spoofed by Mad Magazine in 1975 as the 'Tommy-red-seed', this little known film slipped through the cracks in the mid 70's due to a cluster of films made at the time which flopped at the box office (several of them from Edwards himself). It was only through my private Julie Andrews movie detective agency that I was able to track this one down (after looking for sometime), and I was glad that I did. In no time at all I felt myself being transported back to the 1970's through Blake Edwards' marvellous cinematography of high waist lines and John Barry's super solid tunes.
The Tamarind Seed, described by Julie Andrews early in the film as being "just like a man's head" ( I suppose it could be, depending on your perspective), begins with Julie Farrow (Andrews), a British Home Office functionary who has just ended an affair with a married man. Feeling rather despondent, Farrows' takes a two week vacation in Barbados to iron out a few creases, whereby she meets Feodor Sverdlov (Sharif), a Soviet air attaché. The two embark on a relationship, becoming embroiled in cold war intrigue as they try to quell notions of defection from their respective employers.
Sharif is witty in this, playing a realist who's views have been shaped by years of experience with the material world. His character, while pretending that he is recruiting Andrews to the Russians, tells her that he really wants to defect, and that he must maintain his pretensions in order to continue seeing her. Andrews, whilst playing an intelligent woman, lives by a code of honesty and justice, represented in the legend of the tamarind seed. In typical spy like fashion, the film keeps you guessing, but it is the staunch affection between the main characters throughout compromising circumstances that adds beauty to the film. Sharif and Andrews produce some good on screen chemistry here.
Whilst not your non-stop action thriller of today, The Tamarind Seed gives off a convincing air of clandestine 1970's, with locations from London nightclubs, to Barbados, Paris and finally Canada, all giving the film that extra touch of style. John Barry's soundtrack also adds class, however the film is worth watching for the beach shoot out scene in Barbados alone, with some of the funniest dying moments I have seen (reminding me of some early Jackie Chan films).
The Tamarind Seed may not appeal to all fans of this genre, however it is an enjoyable and atmospheric spy flick that is well worth delving into the lost film crevices of the 1970's for.
Three and a half bananas out of five.
Starring:- Julie Andrews, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle.
Spoofed by Mad Magazine in 1975 as the 'Tommy-red-seed', this little known film slipped through the cracks in the mid 70's due to a cluster of films made at the time which flopped at the box office (several of them from Edwards himself). It was only through my private Julie Andrews movie detective agency that I was able to track this one down (after looking for sometime), and I was glad that I did. In no time at all I felt myself being transported back to the 1970's through Blake Edwards' marvellous cinematography of high waist lines and John Barry's super solid tunes.
The Tamarind Seed, described by Julie Andrews early in the film as being "just like a man's head" ( I suppose it could be, depending on your perspective), begins with Julie Farrow (Andrews), a British Home Office functionary who has just ended an affair with a married man. Feeling rather despondent, Farrows' takes a two week vacation in Barbados to iron out a few creases, whereby she meets Feodor Sverdlov (Sharif), a Soviet air attaché. The two embark on a relationship, becoming embroiled in cold war intrigue as they try to quell notions of defection from their respective employers.
Sharif is witty in this, playing a realist who's views have been shaped by years of experience with the material world. His character, while pretending that he is recruiting Andrews to the Russians, tells her that he really wants to defect, and that he must maintain his pretensions in order to continue seeing her. Andrews, whilst playing an intelligent woman, lives by a code of honesty and justice, represented in the legend of the tamarind seed. In typical spy like fashion, the film keeps you guessing, but it is the staunch affection between the main characters throughout compromising circumstances that adds beauty to the film. Sharif and Andrews produce some good on screen chemistry here.
Whilst not your non-stop action thriller of today, The Tamarind Seed gives off a convincing air of clandestine 1970's, with locations from London nightclubs, to Barbados, Paris and finally Canada, all giving the film that extra touch of style. John Barry's soundtrack also adds class, however the film is worth watching for the beach shoot out scene in Barbados alone, with some of the funniest dying moments I have seen (reminding me of some early Jackie Chan films).
The Tamarind Seed may not appeal to all fans of this genre, however it is an enjoyable and atmospheric spy flick that is well worth delving into the lost film crevices of the 1970's for.
Three and a half bananas out of five.
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