The Trouble with Spies
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Burt Kennedy (director and writer) |
| Products | Spy comedy film |
| Parent | Home Box Office (HBO) |
The Trouble with Spies is a 1987 spy comedy film both written and directed by Burt Kennedy, featuring performances by Donald Sutherland and Ned Beatty.
Although filmed in 1984, its release occurred three years later. This movie includes the final screen appearance of esteemed actress Ruth Gordon and represents the concluding film role of Suzanne Danielle.
Plot
Following the disappearance of secret operative George Trent, agency head Angus dispatches the inept Appleton Porter to Ibiza for an inquiry. At Mona Lewis's hotel, Appleton meets several individuals acquainted with Trent, yet none provide clear information. Often bewildered and facing danger, Appleton manages to endure primarily through fortunate circumstances.
Cast
- Donald Sutherland portraying Appleton Porter
- Ned Beatty as Harry Lewis
- Ruth Gordon in the role of Mrs. Arkwright
- Lucy Gutteridge as Mona
- Michael Hordern playing Jason Locke
- Suzanne Danielle as Maria Sola
- Robert Morley in the character of Angus
- Gregory Sierra portraying Captain Sanchez
Production
This project was entirely funded by Home Box Office and marked HBO’s inaugural venture into theatrical motion picture production. Originally named Trouble at the Royal Rose, the film received approval in spring 1983 with a production budget of $6 million.
The lead role was initially offered to Michael Caine for $1 million, who declined, leading to the casting of Donald Sutherland.
Adapted from Marc Lovell’s novel Apple Spy in the Sky, part of a series centered on agent Appleton-Porter, the film intentionally misspelled its title as The Trouble with Spys to boost marquee impact. Nonetheless, promotional trailers and posters used the conventional spelling spies, which remains prevalent in listings such as IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.
Home media
After a brief theatrical exhibition, HBO Video issued The Trouble With Spies on VHS format in 1993. While accessible on various streaming services, it has yet to be released on DVD or Blu-ray.
Interestingly, the advertising poster displays a Volkswagen Beetle convertible, whereas the actual film features only a Citroën 2CV.
External links
- https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/57871
- Turner Classic Movies
- 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/