The Serpent

"One of these men is working for the C.I.A."

1973 1h 53m FR

😐

6.1

MID

⭐

6.2

IMDB

★6.1TMDB · 51★6.2IMDB · 1,271

Thriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Vlassov is a Soviet spy who defects in France. He is whisked to the U.S, where Allan Davies takes over the case. After polygraph tests and cross-examinations, Vlassov names several Western European agents who are also spying for the Soviets. Davies wants to take the listed agents into custody; meanwhile, those on the list start dying under mysterious circumstances.

“One of these men is working for the C.I.A.”

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Cast

Yul Brynner
Col. Alexi Vlassov
Henry Fonda
Alan Davies
Dirk Bogarde
Philip Boyle
Virna Lisi
Mrs. Annabel Lee
Robert Alda
Polygraph interrogator
Farley Granger
Computer Programming Director
Philippe Noiret
Lucien Berthon
Michel Bouquet
Tavel

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Henri Verneuil
Writers: Henri Verneuil, Gilles Perrault
Languages: French, English, German
Countries: Germany, France, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

53 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, English, German.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Germany, France, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Henri Verneuil, shot by Claude Renoir. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Pierre Gillette shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Yul Brynner and Henry Fonda and Dirk Bogarde carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "One of these men is working for the C.I.A.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Henri Verneuil directs. Claude Renoir behind the camera. Ennio Morricone scores. Pierre Gillette cuts. Produced in Germany, France, Italy. Dialogue in French, English, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

153 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, English, German.
3International production across 3 countries: Germany, France, Italy.
4Directed by Henri Verneuil, shot by Claude Renoir. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Pierre Gillette shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Yul Brynner and Henry Fonda and Dirk Bogarde carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "One of these men is working for the C.I.A.".
9IMDB entry: tt0069251 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.