stood still for 20 years. The film's visual style has the look of a Hope and Crosby 'Road' picture, whereas the pacing and personalities of Sutherland and Gould are strictly contemporary." Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times called it "a trivial spy caper comedy ... not without its amusing touches but with almost nothing on its mind." Gary Arnold of The Washington Post wrote, "The material is not in the least fresh. The script sounds as if it had been sitting around gathering dust for several years, and whoever dusted it off failed to inject much in the way of new jokes or verbal wit. However, director Irvin Kershner brings so much energy and professionalism to this essentially tired assignment that it plays with considerable verve." The film grossed $1,148,674 in its opening weekend from 79 theaters. Novelization Shortly before the release of the film, as customary in the era, Pocket Books published a novelization of the screenplay, as by T. Robert Joyce. The by-line seems to exist nowhere else and may be a pseudonym. See also List of American films of 1974 References External links 1974 films 20th Century Fox films 1970s spy comedy films 1970s action comedy films American spy comedy films Cold War spy films Films directed by Irvin Kershner Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith Films produced by Robert Chartoff Films produced by Irwin Winkler American action adventure films American action comedy films 1974 comedy films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films