I Deal in Danger (1966)

I've never thought much of Robert Goulet, but he's good as David March, 15 March 2008

I Deal in Danger is not really a movie, but a couple episodes of a television show called "Blue Light" that were edited together. The show told the story of an Allied secret agent named David March who has defected to the German side. March has, for the most part, been accepted by the Nazi high command. In reality, March is a double agent still working with the Allies in their fight against Hitler and Nazi Germany. Because of its multi-episode television origin, I Deal in Danger features two distinct plot lines. The first, and probably my favorite, finds a skeptical SS officer (Werner Peters) looking to test March's loyalty to the Third Reich. Another British agent who wants to switch sides and work for Germany gives the SS officer his opportunity. What the SS officer doesn't know is that the Englishman is also a double agent. The second plot thread sees March get reassigned to a secret underground German weapons facility. March must convenience a female scientist to help him destroy the facility.

Overall, I quite enjoyed I Deal in Danger. The film is well paced (any boring bits from the television show were most likely edited out) and reasonably entertaining throughout. There are a few surprises along the way such as the scientist who helps March being allowed to die in the explosion. It's not your standard happy ending. I've never thought much of Robert Goulet, but off the top of my head, this is probably one of the better things I've ever seen him in. Goulet is just rugged and cool enough to pull it off. And I really appreciate the fact that Goulet was allowed to play March completely straight without a hint of irony or comedy. The supporting cast is surprisingly strong with actors like Peters providing Goulet with an excellent nemesis. My biggest compliant is that Goulet's character is allowed to be something of a superman. There's one instance in the movie where March single handedly breaks into a Nazi prison to free a scientist. He seems to know exactly where the scientist is being held, he knows exactly where the guards are, and he knows exactly where to place his explosives. Such a mission would have been impossible. Finally, although there was obviously a decent budget involved, I Deal in Danger never overcomes its television roots. I'm not sure I know how to put this, but I Deal in Danger has a look and feel to it that just screams 60s American television.

Until I watched I Deal in Danger, I had never even heard of "Blue Light". It's not that odd considering I was only three years-old when it aired and there were only 17 episodes. Now, however, I would love to see someone bring the show to DVD. I know I'd buy it.

6/10