Code Name Emerald (1985)

Director: Jonathan Sanger

Writer: Ronald Bass

Composer: John Addison

Starring: Ed Harris, Max von Sydow, Horst Buchholz, Helmut Berger, Cyrielle Clair, Eric Stoltz, Patrick Stewart, Graham Crowden, George Mikell, Gabriel Barylli, Peger Bonke, Tony Rohr

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Double agent.  Double cross.  Trained by the Americans.  Trusted by the Nazis.  One man holds the secret to the invasion of Normandy.

Plot: In April 1944, an allied agent is sent to France in order to rescue an "overlord" captured by the Germans. (An "overlord" is one of the few men who know the date and place of the "D" day). To achieve this goal, he will be supported by a secret friend of the Allies, a very important German officer and the French resistance. But the SS is not resting...

My rating: 6.5/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

Here's a somewhat interesting and effective thriller about a subject I was not aware of (Overlords of WWII).  The performances are solid and hold up as the best part of the film.  I could completely do without the romance sub-plot for a couple of reasons, the first of which is that there's plenty of far more interesting things going on that could have been utilized instead of Gus (a professional) letting something like that get in the way as much as it did.  It felt like their relationship was played up much more than needed, especially when you consider how much of a pro he was to get so distracted.  Anyway, it's worth noting that this is the first theatrical film produced by NBC.  So what?  Well, it often feels like a big budget TV miniseries more than it does a theatrical film.  That also means it's got a stageyness to some of the interiors.  It's still a good thriller with a lot of nice moments (particularly for Harris and Stoltz).  It's worth a look but keep your expectations low enough to be pleasantly surprised by it.  With a cast like this you're going to want to see it.