Funeral in Berlin (1966)

A follow-on to the Icpriss file, this one has Harry Palmer going to Berlin to help a KGB General defect to the West. Its well-acted and directed, and benefits from a good performance by Michael Caine, some witty, clever dialogue, and plenty of West Berlin location shots. For the first 80 minutes its a good, if somewhat leisurely, Cold War Spy story.

Sadly, the movie then switches gears and turns into a 20 minute action story with a new plot.* Y'see Harry's German friend is actually a former Nazi trying to regain his identity papers and escape to East Berlin. Nothing prepares us for this, and frankly, I didn't much care**. Its as if the director decided "Wait a minute we don't have enough killings and fist fights" and threw in this nonsense to meet the allotted 104 minute run time. Too bad the script goes wrong, because the supporting cast is very good.***

 Notes (spoilers)

* = The movie reaches its natural ending when Palmer refuses to kill Vulkan in cold blood., and Caine talks to the KGB General in West Berlin. However, we then switch to Vulkan killing a safe cracker and ambushing Palmer to get the documents. This is followed by a Palmer-Vulkan fist fight, then the M5 documents guy showing up, another killing, another fight, and then the final failed escape attempt.
** = The German's change from Palmer's friend to Nazi Villain is completely unconvincing and since we were never given much background about the character or his crimes, its impossible to care. We are relieved when Palmer lets him go, and then surprised when Vulkan cold-bloodily attacks Palmer out of nowhere.
*** = Oskar Homokla in particular is very good.  Eva Renzi is very beautiful and can act. Hugh Burden is excellent as the pathetic MI5 Documents expert.