“Three Days of the Condor” (1975) directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson & Max von Sydow / Z-View

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

Director: Sydney Pollack

Screenplay: Lorenzo Semple Jr., David Rayfiel based on SIX DAYS OF THE CONDOR by James Grady

Stars: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, Addison Powell, Walter McGinn, Tina Chen, Michael Kane, Jess Osuna,  Patrick Gorman, Hansford Rowe, Hank Garrett, Ed Crowley, James Keane and John Houseman.

Tagline:  The CIA knows him as Condor. What he knows about them has just made him an Endangered Species.

The Plot…

Joe Turner (Redford) works for the CIA… as a research analyst.  He’s part of a small team.  Their cover is the American Literary Historical Society in New York City.  They read and analyze books and magazines from around the world.  They’re looking for hidden messages, ideas for operations… anything useful. Typed reports are sent to CIA headquarters.

The job is very mundane.  Usually the biggest excitement is “what’s for lunch” and whose turn is it to get it?  As it happens, today Joe is up.  He heads out the backdoor since it’s raining and runs over to the deli.

Joe returns with the sandwiches to find everyone in the office murdered.  Joe is shocked.  No one in the office was a field agent.  Who would want them dead?  And why?

Joe quickly leaves.  He finds a phone booth and reports the hit to CIA headquarters.  Joe is given instructions that will bring him in.  When he shows up at the arranged location, Joe is almost gunned down.

On the run, unsure of who he can trust, Joe must figure out why he’s marked for murder.  Even if he does, what chance does a research analyst have against trained killers?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Three Days of the Condor was nominated for one Academy Award

• 1976 Nominee Oscar for Best Film Editing:  Fredric Steinkamp, Don Guidice

Kudos for using Hank Garrett as an assassin.  He doesn’t look like a stereotypical movie hitman. But he sure fought like one.

Three Days of the Condor (1975) rates 4 of 5 stars.