Author James Grady first wrote the story in the mid 1970s. The original title was Six Days of the Condor, but in 1975 the film adaptation shortened it to Three Days of the Condor and Robert Redford was cast in the title role. The legendary director Sydney Pollack directed this engaging story of conspiracy.
Reading for the CIA
Redford plays Joseph Turner, a “reader” for the CIA. What he and his fellow “readers” do is simply to read everything that’s published, figure out if any of the plots or secrets from the CIA are in the published works, and to analyze different schemes to see if they are plausible. They work for the CIA but are not spies. They simply read. His code name is Condor but he has never had the need to use it. His work is secret and none of his friends know exactly what he does.
Adrift in the Streets of New York
One day he returns to his office to find everyone there has been murdered. He panics, takes off into the streets of New York City, gets to a pay phone and calls into CIA headquarters. After explaining the situation he is told to hang out in NYC until a certain time then phone back for instructions. The agency then sends out their crew to ascertain the situation.
Turner is still in shock after discovering his dead colleagues. He tries to figure out what happened. After several hours of walking the streets of NYC and visiting museums, all the while looking over his shoulder to make sure no one has him in their sites, Turner calls back to the CIA. He is then instructed to come to a certain alley and an agent will “bring him in.” He’ll then be safe and secure.
His mistrust of the agency comes into play as he insists the agent brings along someone that is familiar to him. But in the alley things go awry and Turner is once again all alone in New York, trying to figure out what is going on and whom he can trust.
Picking an Accomplice
Turner knows he needs help so he abducts a woman. Kathy Hale (Faye Dunaway) is on her way to Vermont to meet her boyfriend, but gets waylaid by Joe Turner. After a frantic night the two become allies as she finally realized he is not a kook but is really in trouble.
The thrilling story unfolds in New York and Washington as little by little Turner begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together and is shocked by what he is uncovering.
Finally this intense story is available in Blu-ray. Max Von Sydow and Cliff Robertson co-star in this complex but mesmerizing film. The story was written over thirty years ago but it is timeless. The plot line is just as plausible today. Actually, it’s even more so.
- Paramount Home Entertainment
- Rated R
- 117 Minutes
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