Golden Salamander

Stiff and chilling British thriller where Trevor Howard gets involved with a crime syndicate abroad. Howard was surprisingly effective doing this, handling things very elegantly as he stumbles through a land he's not familiar. You also got French actress Anouk Aimée in a English speaking film at 17-years old as the love interest of 36-year-old Howard, looking closer to 50. Let's just say she brought a different kind of elegance to this, helping getting some personality in there.

Meandering drama relies on its terrific cast to maintain interest; mostly thanks to Aimee's luminous performance it succeeds, though Howard's easy, reliable authority creates a sturdy centre. The intrigue inherent in the story isn't developed as swiftly as it should be, which does result in the pace flagging from time to time.