Somewhere in this crowd is a high Russian official who disagrees with his government’s display of force and what it threatens. Very soon, his conscience will force him to attempt an escape while apparently on a vacation with his family.

Topaz was a box office disappointment and not one of Hitchcock’s favorite directorial experiences. In retrospect, the source material — masculine, runaway bestseller spy intrigue populated with what he deemed as “cardboard characters” — was not conducive to Hitchcock’s strengths. But even Hitchcock misfires are better than most any films out there. — Jeffery Berg