Crossplot Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Crossplot Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 12, 2024

Alvin Rakoff's "Crossplot" (1969) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Alvin Rakoff; new program with actors Michael Culver, Prudence Drage, Norman Eshley, and Stephen Garlick; new program with critic Jonathan Wood; restoration featurette; resotred trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Roger Moore frequently stated that The Man Who Haunted Himself was a special film that irreversibly impacted his career. However, The Man Who Haunted Himself underperformed at the box office, and it took decades for mainstream critics to agree with Moore and begin writing that it was worthy of a reexamination. What happened that changed minds? Moore aged, his classic appeal disappeared, and some mainstream critics suddenly discovered a different actor. A few then returned to reexamine his work and stumbled upon The Man Who Haunted Himself.

Moore peaked with the James Bond films he appeared in during the 1980s, and their success made him a financially secure man. However, his striking appearance, which landed him the Bond part, also ensured that he was routinely offered variations of the same one-dimensional Bond-esque character for years. The only exception to this trend was the character he played in The Man Who Haunted Himself -- a paranoid man battling a mean doppelganger in a strangely fluid playground with an unmistakable giallo atmosphere. The Man Who Haunted Himself convinced Moore that he could be a very different but equally good actor when the time came for producers and directors to replace him with a younger version of him, and filled him with confidence that had a profoundly positive effect on his work.

Alvin Rakoff directed Crossplot a year before The Man Who Haunted Himself and in it Moore plays one of those one-dimensional Bond-esque characters. Moore is predictably good and likable, but there is a sea of difference between this character and the one from The Man Who Haunted Himself.

After a night of exhausting sexual fireworks, advertising executive Gary Fenn (Moore) is forced to improvise to please a very wealthy client ready to sign a huge deal with his company. However, someone secretly switches the picture of the model Fenn has chosen to impress the client, so to save the deal, without his boss and the client knowing about the gaffe, he begins looking for the mysterious new model. Soon after, Fenn tracks down Marla Kogash (Claudie Lange), a Hungarian beauty whose visa has expired, and realizes that she is sought by some very shady characters specializing in political demagoguery.

Crossplot works with original material from Leigh Vance, who had scripted several episodes of the classic TV series The Saint. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of the energy and chaos as well as some of Moore’s antics remind of The Saint.

But in Crossplot Moore and Lange are equal partners, and the more time they spend together, the more the suspense and action in it become overwhelmed by comedy and romance. This makes Crossplot a lot easier to compare to the likes of Charade, Blindfold, and Arabesque, all of which tell similarly twisty but very charming stories.

The chemistry between Moore and Lange is good. However, it often feels like they could and should have been far more flirtatious with each other. Indeed, there is plenty of material begging for them to load up their exchanges with witty innuendo of the kind that an intelligent viewer will find far more attractive than the nice looking but still frequently very silly action. The supporting cast includes Martha Hyer, Alexis Kanner, Ursula Howells, and Bernard Lee.

The opening credits are terrific and easily could have been created by Saul Bass. As they appear, John Rowles also sings “I’ll Find My Love”, a fabulous song that perfectly matches the retro vibe of Crossplot.

Imprint Films’ release introduces an exclusive new 2K restoration sourced from the best available element for Crossplot, an interpositive.

Crossplot Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Crossplot arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

The release introduces an exclusive new 2K restoration sourced from the best available element for Crossplot, an interpositive. The overall quality of the visuals is quite nice, though in several areas it is easy to tell that the time has left its mark on the interpositive and ideally density levels should be better. (A great example is a sequence early into the film where Roger Moore and Claudie Lange are seen arguing in the taxi. This screencapture is from the sequence). Still, delineation, clarity, and depth are pleasing, and there are no distracting stability issues. Grain exposure is good too, but because of the density fluctuations it can be a bit uneven in some areas. Color balance is stable. However, saturation levels can be better. Also, I think that the overall temperature of the visuals is just a tiny bit cooler than it needs to be. I did not encounter any distracting surface imperfections, such as cuts, damage marks, and blemishes. All in all, Crossplot has a fine organic appearance on Blu-ray. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Crossplot Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not encounter any age-related anomalies to report in our review. All dialog was very clear, sharp, and stable. There is quite a bit of action that sounds pretty good, too. However, the dynamic variety, even during the most elaborate action material, is decent at best, which of course should not be surprising given the age of Crossplot.

Crossplot Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Restoring Crossplot - this program highlights some of the issues that were addressed during the restoration of Crossplot. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Bond Practice - in this new program, director Alvin Rakoff recalls how he was offered to direct Crossplot, and discusses various casting choices, crucial contributions, what it was like to work with Roger Moore, the film's pre-James Bond qualities, etc. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Off the Charts - in this new program, actors Michael Culver, Prudence Drage, Norman Eshley, and Stephen Garlick recall their involvement with Crossplot and what it was like to interact with Alvin Rakoff and Roger Moore. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• A Dressing Down - in this archival audio interview, actor Francis Matthews recalls an incident during the shooting of Crossplot. The interview was recorded in 2010. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• The New Look of Sixties London: Paternoster Square and London Wall - in this new program, Jonathan Wood discusses the evolution of a historic area in London. In English, not subtitled. (28 min).

• Textless Titles - in English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer - a newly restored theatrical trailer for Crossplot. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Gallery - a large collection of archival photos and promotional materials for Crossplot. (9 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Gareth Owen and Henry Holland.

• Pressbook - a miniature reproduction of the original pressbook for Crossplot.

Crossplot Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Crossplot did for Roger Moore what Taffin did for Pierce Brosnan. These films sell rough but equally attractive early versions of the famous Agent 007 both actors will soon play. In Crossplot, Moore's performance leaves the impression that he is already practicing the right tone and delivery of the lines that will disarm his future female targets, too. However, Crossplot will appeal to folks who have seen and had a good time with similar '60s projects like Charade, Blindfold, and Arabesque. Imprint Films' release introduces a new 2K restoration of it with a nice selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features, one of which is a wonderful program with director Alvin Rakoff. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.