gridoon2024 Review of Funeral in Berlin

Funeral in Berlin (1966)

Solid most of the way, but loses its focus towards the end

[6/10 · 17 December 2013]

While it's not the equal of its predecessor, "The Ipcress File", "Funeral In Berlin" is still a must-see for Michael Caine fans as well as old-school spy movie fans. Berlin (and London) on-location shooting, Otto Heller's expert cinematography and Konrad Elfers' classic score give the film just the right look and feel of authenticity, while Michael Caine's dry wit is at its highest ("Escaped? They probably paid him to leave!"). However, the last half-hour is not as riveting as the rest of the film, as it switches focus from the main plot of a Russian colonel who wants to defect to the West to the less interesting plot of an ex-Nazi war criminal with an enormous Swiss bank account that everyone wants to get their hands on. In my opinion, that switch is the reason "Funeral In Berlin" is not quite as good as "The Ipcress File". **1/2 out of 4.