Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21395 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-03-12
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Synopsis
Judith Farrow, who works for the British Embassy, has just ended an affair with a married man. To recover emotionally, she decides to vacation in Barbados, where she meets a suave, mysterious Russian named Feodor Sverdlov. Although the two are attracted to each other, Judith is wary of beginning a new relationship -- at first. Matters are further complicated when the pair becomes enmeshed in a deadly web of intrigue involving traitors, spies and defectors, all of which threatens not only their romance, but their lives...

Customer Reviews

Romanoff and Juliet
One of those rather bland glossy star vehicles so beloved of Lew Grade in the 70s, The Tamarind Seed is a Romanoff and Juliet romantic thriller from Blake Edwards' wilderness period that offers little in the way of romance or thrills but just about passes an idle afternoon. Despite the John Barry score and Maurice Binder title sequence, it's more sedate affair than Bond would settle for, moving largely in embassy circles where gossip and espionage mingle somewhat disinterestedly and treachery is inextricably intertwined with career moves.

Omar Sharif is the Russian embassy spy who falls for Julie Andrews' British embassy secretary on holiday, only to find themselves under a cloud of suspicion from his superior Oscar Homolka and Anthony Quayle's British spycatcher. Sharif's solution is to pretend that he's trying to recruit her as a spy so he can continue the affair when he's back at work while the British want her to recruit him (no prizes for guessing which side makes the better offer). Sparks don't exactly fly between the pair: the political and ideological banter that passes for their courtship works better than the genuine love scenes, but there's too much on the nose dialogue elsewhere - having effectively established one character's homosexuality in one scene, it needlessly ends with him being called a poof just in case anyone missed the point. Unfortunately there's not much in the way of suspense either, with the unmasking of a British traitor and the inevitable botched defection all too predictable and a scene where Sharif steals a supposedly ultra-secret file by putting it under his jacket seems almost laughable (even if it is the way most secrets probably were stolen in those days). Edwards' staging of the final action scene is fairly atrocious as well, leaving a film that looks at once expensive and somewhat half-baked. It's watchable enough if your expectations are low, but nothing more.

Network's special edition DVD offers the film in a good 2.35:1 widescreen transfer with trailer and interviews with Omar Sharif and Blake Edwards from the ITV archives - though neither relate to the film itself (Edwards is actually promoting one of his Pink Panther films).

Absolutely Magical Movie.....
Julie Andrews showing just what a fantastically versatile actor she is! The combination of a good 'story' by Evelyn Antony, the great cast, the exotic locations, the music of John Barry, superb production and atmosphere make this a very under-rated and lovely film to have in your collection.

From the fabulous opening titles (by Maurice Binder who also designed many of the James Bond opening titles) and the entrancing music of John Barry who so captivates the mood of this film you are invited to meet recently widowed Judith Farrow (Julie Andrews)who is working in a very sensitive Defence Department job for the British Government during the Cold War years of the 1970's. Staying at the same hotel, on a beautiful Barbados beach, is Colonel Feodor Sverdlov (Omar Sharrif) a Military Attache from the Russian Embassy in Paris - is this just a coincidence? Watch this Movie and discover for yourself whether this is love at first sight or something more deliberate!

brilliant underated movie
Have loved this film since the 80's tried to get it...really really happy....buy and suspend judgment...enjoy!!!