The Riddle of the Sands (1978 Tony Maylan & co-scr)

Michael Powell had recommended Erskine Childers' 1903 spy adventure novel to Chris Challis, and tried to get financing for it a couple of times - ultimately it was made by son Drummond Challis' production company.

I liked the rather brusque attitude of Michael York towards Simon MacCorkindale, and the locales for the Frisian islands. And Howard Blake's music. Noted York quickly trading three piece suit for much trendier black sweater and wellies. Jenny Agutter's behaviour is throughout rather suspicious and Rod was offended she didn't take her clothes off. Alan Badel is the English German.

I rather enjoyed it, though it's funny we are currently working our way through Ripping Yarns, a series which subverts exactly this kind of daring-do old school adventure in which 'it's not marmalade, but it's not bad' sort of thing happens.

You can see why it was shot widescreen (all our films today were), though I've come to the conclusion that the narrower the frame, the more intimate the shot.