This splendid made-for-TV movie from Euston Films – written by Keith Waterhouse from a novel by Brian Freemantle – told how Charlie Muffin (David Hemmings), a scruffy middle-aged “over-the-hill” British agent, put one over on the entire British and Russian spy networks.
The story told how, having captured Alexei Berenkov (Clive Revill), head of the Soviet spy network in Europe, the British Intelligence Service needed evidence to convict him.
They decide to hand the investigation over to Charlie – a man despised by his fellow colleagues. The ‘dimwit’ duly walks away both with the evidence they require – and the million-dollar exchange fee requested by KGB Chief Kalenin (Pinkas Braun) for his defection.
Other big names in the cast include Sir Ralph Richardson, Ian Richardson, Sam Wanamaker, Donald Churchill and Shane Rimmer.
Charlie Muffin aired on ITV on Tuesday 11 December 1979. The film was released in the US as A Deadly Game.
Charlie Muffin
David Hemmings Ruttgers
Sam Wanamaker Edith
Jennie Linden Chief Valery Kalenin
Pinkas Braun Sir Henry Cuthbertson
Ian Richardson Sir Archibald Willoughby
Ralph Richardson Braley
Shane Rimmer Harrison
Tony Mathews Snare
Christopher Godwin Cox
Norwich Duff Janet
Rohan McCullough Wilberforce
Donald Churchill Wilcox
Frederick Treves Alexei Berenkov
Clive Revill Bayer
Phillip Joseph Kastanazy
Reinhold Olszewski Marshall
Marc Smith Byrbank
Peter Banks Payne
Ray Hassett British Ambassador
Rodney Lovick Jessell
Peter Jessup Mrs Heiderman
Elspeth March Keys (Secretary of State)
Charles Keating Bolton
David Daker
Charlie Muffin
Sir Archibald Willoughby
Harrison
