''The Trouble with Spies'' is a 1987 film written and directed by

Burt Kennedy Burton Raphael Kennedy (September 3, 1922 – February 15, 2001) was an American screenwriter and director known mainly for directing Westerns. Budd Boetticher called him "the best Western writer ever." Biography Kennedy was born in 1922 i ...

. A spy spoof comedy, it stars

Donald Sutherland Donald McNichol Sutherland (born 17 July 1935) is a Canadian actor whose film career spans over six decades. He has been nominated for nine Golden Globe Awards, winning two for his performances in the television films '' Citizen X'' (1995) a ...

and Ned Beatty. The film was shot in 1984, but not released until three years later. It features veteran actress

Ruth Gordon Ruth Gordon Jones (October 30, 1896 – August 28, 1985) was an American actress, screenwriter, and playwright. She began her career performing on Broadway at age 19. Known for her nasal voice and distinctive personality, Gordon gained internati ...

's final performances. It was also the final film of

Suzanne Danielle Suzanne Danielle (nee Morris; born 14 January 1957) is an English former film and television actress. Career Danielle trained as a dancer at the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts in her home town of Romford in Essex, and also attended Bedford ...

Plot

When secret agent George Trent goes missing, spy agency chief Angus sends inept colleague Appleton Porter to the isle of Ibiza to find out why. Appleton meets a number of guests in Mona Lewis's hotel who were familiar with Trent, but none has a clue what became of him. Appleton himself is totally clueless, nearly being killed a number of times but surviving mainly due to pure dumb luck.

Cast

as Appleton Porter * Ned Beatty as Harry Lewis *

as Mrs. Arkwright *

Lucy Gutteridge Lucy Kérimée Gutteridge (born 28 November 1956) is an English retired actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in the television miniseries '' Little Gloria... Happy at Last'' (1982), for which she received a Go ...

as Mona *

Michael Hordern Sir Michael Murray Hordern Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (3 October 19112 May 1995)Morley, Sheridan"Hordern, Michael Murray (1911–1995)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, online e ...

as Jason Locke *

as Maria Sola *

Robert Morley Robert Adolph Wilton Morley, CBE (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, of ...

as Angus *

Gregory Sierra Gregory Joseph Sierra (January 25, 1937 – January 4, 2021) was an American actor known for his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on ''Barney Miller'', Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford on ''Sanford and Son'' ...

as Captain Sanchez

Production

The film was financed entirely by Home Box Office, the first production of the pay cable channel’s new theatrical motion picture division. the film, initially titled ''Trouble at the Royal Rose'', was greenlit in the Spring of 1983 and the film had a $6-million budget.

Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...

was initially offered $1 million to play the role of Appleton Porter However, Caine turned down the role and actor

took the part instead.

Home media

After limited theatrical release HBO Video issued ''The Trouble With Spies'' on VHS. It was never released on DVD or Blu-ray.

References

External links

* * * 1987 films 1980s spy films Films directed by Burt Kennedy Films set in Ibiza HBO Films films De Laurentiis Entertainment Group films 1987 comedy films Films scored by Ken Thorne 1980s English-language films {{1980s-comedy-film-stub