The Deadly Affair backdrop
THRILLER . 1967 . 1h 55m . 6.2/10

The Deadly Affair_

"From the author of "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold""

Charles Dobbs is a British secret agent investigating the apparent suicide of Foreign Office official Samuel Fennan. Dobbs suspects that Fennan's wife, Elsa, a survivor of a Nazi Germany extermination camp, might have some clues, but other officials want Dobbs to drop the case. So Dobbs hires a retiring inspector, Mendel, to quietly make inquiries. Dobbs isn't at all sure as there are a number of anomalies that simply can't be explained away. Dobbs is also having trouble at home with his errant wife, whom he very much loves, having frequent affairs. He's also pleased to see an old friend, Dieter Frey, who he recruited after the war. With the assistance of a colleague and a retired policeman, Dobbs tries to piece together just who is the spy and who in fact assassinated Fennan.

Starring James Mason, Simone Signoret, Maximilian Schell
6.2/10
Rating
1h 55m
Runtime
1967
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
The Deadly Affair poster
From the author of "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold"

Charles Dobbs is a British secret agent investigating the apparent suicide of Foreign Office official Samuel Fennan. Dobbs suspects that Fennan's wife, Elsa, a survivor of a Nazi Germany extermination camp, might have some clues, but other officials want Dobbs to drop the case. So Dobbs hires a retiring inspector, Mendel, to quietly make inquiries. Dobbs isn't at all sure as there are a number of anomalies that simply can't be explained away. Dobbs is also having trouble at home with his errant wife, whom he very much loves, having frequent affairs. He's also pleased to see an old friend, Dieter Frey, who he recruited after the war. With the assistance of a colleague and a retired policeman, Dobbs tries to piece together just who is the spy and who in fact assassinated Fennan.

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Cast
James Mason stars as Charles Dobbs in The Deadly Affair.
James Mason →
Year context
The Deadly Affair was released 59 years ago in 1967.
Overview
Charles Dobbs is a British secret agent investigating the apparent suicide of Foreign Office official Samuel Fennan. Dobbs suspects that Fennan's wife, Elsa,...
The Deadly Affair is a Thriller, Mystery, Drama film with a runtime of 1h 55m.

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
115 min (1h 55m)
Country
Rating
6.2/10 (92 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is The Deadly Affair about?
Charles Dobbs is a British secret agent investigating the apparent suicide of Foreign Office official Samuel Fennan. Dobbs suspects that Fennan's wife, Elsa, a survivor of a Nazi Germany extermination camp, might have some clues, but other officials want Dobbs to drop the case. So Dobbs hires a retiring inspector, Mendel, to quietly make inquiries. Dobbs isn't at all sure as there are a number of anomalies that simply can't be explained away. Dobbs is also having trouble at home with his errant wife, whom he very much loves, having frequent affairs. He's also pleased to see an old friend, Dieter Frey, who he recruited after the war. With the assistance of a colleague and a retired policeman, Dobbs tries to piece together just who is the spy and who in fact assassinated Fennan.
How long is The Deadly Affair?
The Deadly Affair has a runtime of 115 minutes (1h 55m).
Who stars in The Deadly Affair?
The cast of The Deadly Affair includes James Mason, Simone Signoret, Maximilian Schell, Harriet Andersson, Harry Andrews.
What is the rating of The Deadly Affair?
The Deadly Affair has a rating of 6.2 out of 10 based on 92 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (3)

Thriller Mystery Drama
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