The File of the Golden Goose 1969 Crime Thriller Stars: Yul Brynner, Charles Gray, Edward Woodward, Director: Sam Wanamaker The New York Times Review Published: October 3, 1969 THE mildly arresting thing about "The File of the Golden Goose," a standard little sleuthing melodrama about a counterfeiting ring, is a background sprinkling of London landmarks in nice color. As the story forges ahead familiarly, we glimpse Parliament from the Thames and the promenade of Royal Festival Hall, the neon glitter of Soho, a swank Mayfair gambling club, the Portobello Market and the Burlington Arcade. Unfortunately, the picture gets in the way, as does the shiny, bald pate of Yul Brynner, standing out as obviously as the London Hilton. And the star, mind you, is tackling a role where sublety is a matter of life and death, as an F.B.I. agent who joins the gang of cutthroats, burrows deep into their operational secrets and—surprise, surprise—topples the culprits, with some assist from Scotland Yard. Nearly every twist and turn is predictable. To a sourly cynical expression, Mr. Brynner simply adds super-muscularity, while flanked by such criminal stereotypes as the moronic killer (Graham Crowden), the suave country squire (Anthony Jacobs) and the unctuous dilettante (Charles Gray). The gang also includes an ice-cold beauty (Adrienne Corey). Toward the climax, the film rather curiously shifts from fair to competent, as two characters — and performances—manage to cut through with some interest and conviction. These are Edward Woodward, as Brynner's sensible, brave sidekick from Scotland Yard, and Karel Stepanek, who delivers a few intriguing footnotes on the art of fake-money engraving. And Sam eventually pulls the picture together a bit more tautly than it warrants, in such scenes as a bedroom double-murder and the film's best vignette, a brief, fatal encounter at the Burlington Arcade. Moreover, if the screenplay by John C. Higgins and James B. Gordon offers absolutely nothing new, it does stick to the business at hand, with no romance dutifully dragged in. But "The File of the Golden Goose" can best be refiled and promptly forgotten. The Cast THE FILE OF THE GOLDEN GOOSE, screenplay by John C. Higgins and James B. Gordon, from a story by Mr. Higgins; directed by Sam Wanamaker; produced by David E. Rose; a Caralan-Dador Production, presented by United Artists. At the DeMille Theater, 47th Street and Seventh Avenue, Loew's Cine Theater, Third Avenue and 86th Street, and the 34th Street East, east of Third Avenue. Running time: 105 minutes. (The Motion Picture Association of America's Production Code and Rating Administration classifies this film. "M—suggested for mature audiences, parental discretion advised.) Novak . . . . . Yul Brynner The Owl . . . . . Charles Gray Thompson . . . . . Edward Woodward Mueller . . . . . Karel Stepanck Firenzo . . . . . Anthony Jacobs Sloane . . . . . John Barrie Tina . . . . . Adrienne Corri Smythe . . . . . Graham Crowden By HOWARD THOMPSON.

• published: 20 Dec 2014
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