The late Sydney Pollack takes the paranoia of Watergate and crafts it into this fine thriller starring Robert Redford. Alas, Pollack’s untimely death probably accounts for the lack of special features, but the film is certainly thrilling the first time round.
Joe Turner (Robert Redford) is a reader. It’s not that he just reads novels for the enjoyment of it; he reads them for the Central Intelligence Agency. He works in a nondescript building in New York City and really doesn’t jibe with the “agency.”
He reads material for any hint of hidden codes or other agenda harmful to the United States. Turner files a report on a low quality thriller he’s reading and sits back to await a response to his report. He gets one. He does to lunch and returns to find his office staff executed by Joubert (Max Von Sydow). He contacts the CIA using his codename “Condor” and is put in touch with deputy director Higgins (Cliff Robertson). Turner’s section chief Wicks (Michael Kane) is dispatched to bring him in to safety, but Wicks turns out to be in on the conspiracy.
Turner then forces Kathy Hale (Faye Dunaway) to take him to her apartment where he holds her hostage until he can figure out what is going on. Turner begins to unravel the conspiracy that lies underneath, but can he get out from under it before it puts him under the ground?
3 Days of the Condor is based on the thriller by Tom Grady, Six Days of the Condor (hey what happened to the other three days?). In some ways I’m sure that Condor is true to life as I’d imagine that the CIA has many operatives working in clandestine locations around the United States.
Each of them on the look out for potential threats and possibly even unaware of their purpose. Trust no one, might be the theme of the film as Turner finds that there are very few people that he can trust. In the end, pursuers become allies and even though Turner makes it through his encounter we’re left to believe that he’ll be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life, unless that life is cut short by a stranger.
There is some oddness to kidnapping Faye Dunaway since it seems she should be scared out of her wits. It’s just that she becomes Turner’s love interest. She must’ve got a quick onset of Stockholm syndrome.
Redford is very good in the role as is Dunaway, but its Von Sydow’s turn as a “helpful” assassin that impressed me as well. It’s a taunt thriller but probably not up for repeat viewings.
3 Days of the Condor is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.35:1). The only special feature is the film’s trailer, but it’s in high definition.
Sadly, the world lost a talent in Sydney Pollack. He takes a stab at a spy thriller and comes up aces. There are some odd occurrences in the plot, but it’s a thrill ride that keeps going till the twist in the end.
3 Days of the Condor [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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