Charlie Muffin (1979)
Actors:
John Blain (actor),
Ron Bone (actor),
Brandon Brady (actor),
Pinkas Braun (actor),
Donald Churchill (actor),
David Daker (actor),
Norwich Duff (actor),
Peter Ellis (actor),
Christopher Godwin (actor),
John Gregg (actor),
Ray Hassett (actor),
David Hemmings (actor),
William Hootkins (actor),
Peter Jessup (actor),
Peter Banks (actor),
Plot: Charlie Muffin, top British Intelligence operative, has just broken up a major Soviet spy network in England. However, a new Director with new ideas takes over and wants Charlie out. But then a high-ranking Soviet spy-master hints that he wants to defect, and both British Intelligence and the CIA want him and will do anything to get him. Charlie may be the only man who can bring the defection off successfully, but is the whole thing an elaborate set-up? And when your so-called allies are stabbing each other and you in the back to get this prize, whom can Charlie trust on either side?
Keywords: based-on-novel, character-name-in-title, cold-war, kgb, spy
Genres:
Thriller,
Quotes:
Snare: [seeing Charlie cleaning his leather-stained feet] What the hell do you think you're doing?::Charlie Muffin: Washing my feet.::Snare: Very biblical. Can you do miracles too?::Charlie Muffin: Yes. I can come back from the dead out of burning Volkswagens.
Charlie Muffin: The old sod owes me an apology.::Janet: Sir Henry Cuthbertson, Bart.? No way. I know him, Charlie; he was my godfather long before he was your boss. He's a bastard.::Charlie Muffin: So am I. Funny thing is that none of them realize it.
Sir Archibald Willoughby: Well, I won't say be careful, Charlie; no damn sense in that. But remember the first rule.::Charlie Muffin: Always secure an escape route.
Valery Kalenin: [to Cuthbertson] You really were incredibly stupid, Sir Henry. Charlie Muffin was one of the few real operatives in your service; his capture of Berenkov was brilliant. Yet you set him up to be shot in Berlin, you vilify him when he comes home unscathed, you demote him. [smiles] How can you expect loyalty when you treat a man like that?
Sir Archibald Willoughby: World keeping you busy, Charlie?::Charlie Muffin: Well, I think I shall be busy soon enough, sir, yes.::Sir Archibald Willoughby: Oh, I say, I hope to God he wasn't briefing you in here! Even panelled walls have ears, you know.
Charlie Muffin: [referring to CIA Agent Braley] I want him there, and always within ten yards.::Braley: Ten yards?::Charlie Muffin: You see, at that range I'm classified as an expert shot.
Cuthbertson: [to Ruttgers] It's a pity we have to entrust the completion of this mission to two frightened men.::Charlie Muffin: [looking right at both Directors] Better two frightened men than two psychopaths.
Valery Kalenin: [referring to Harrison's death] Why do people always run?::Charlie Muffin: Lack of experience.
Cuthbertson: [talking about Charlie's affair with Cuthbertson's secretary/goddaughter Janet] Rutting was always the favorite pastime of the working class.