gridoon2024 Review of The Assassination Bureau

The Assassination Bureau (1969)

Lavishly produced, but not particularly funny, black comedy

[6/10 · 16 September 2012]

"The Assassination Bureau" has nearly everything that money can buy - which doesn't include the laughs. It takes you on a tour around Europe, the period recreation and the production values (apart from a couple of instances of iffy effects) are splendid, the cast (including 3 Bond veterans) is distinguished, but as a (black) comedy, the film is not particularly funny, and it's also too long. It does have its own unique flavor, however, as it combines the comedy with an offbeat romance between Oliver Reed (uncommonly charming) and Diana Rigg (quite beautiful in period clothes, though nearly upstaged by Annabella Incontrera) and an action climax (including a swordfight aboard a zeppelin) that would not be out of place in a James Bond movie. And I have to admit that the ending IS pretty funny. **1/2 out of 4.