Assignment: Vienna
The story of Jake Webster, an American expatriate in Vienna who was the operator of Jake's Bar & Grill, an American-style establishment near the scenic heart of the city. In fact, the business was a cover for Jake's actual reason for being in Vienna. He was involved in tracking down various spies and international criminals at the behest of U.S. intelligence, which apparently held something against him which, if disclosed, would have resulted in his being deported from Austria and apparently then incarcerated in the United States. Jake's liaison with U.S. intelligence was a Major Caldwell.
Insights
Plot Summary
A former Vietnam POW, now a detective, is sent to Vienna to investigate the disappearance of a American diplomat's daughter. He uncovers a complex web of international intrigue involving the Stasi and a stolen microfilm that could ignite a new Cold War.
Critical Reception
Assignment: Vienna was a made-for-television film that served as a pilot for a potential series. While it featured Robert Conrad in a familiar tough-guy role, the film received a mixed to negative reception, with critics often citing a predictable plot and uninspired action sequences. Audiences found it to be a standard espionage thriller of its time.
What Reviewers Say
- Familiar espionage tropes and a predictable narrative.
- Robert Conrad delivers a serviceable performance in a standard thriller.
- Lacks the originality and excitement of more prominent spy films of the era.
Google audience: Audience feedback is not readily available for this made-for-TV film, but general sentiment suggests it was a competent, if unremarkable, spy thriller.
Fun Fact
Despite being intended as a pilot for a TV series, the show was never picked up, and 'Assignment: Vienna' remains a standalone television film.
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