The story centers on a British safecracker, played by Christopher Plummer, who finds himself imprisoned on the island of Jersey when it’s taken over by German forces. Recognizing his intelligence and lack of principles, the Germans recruit him as one of their agents. Following an evaluation from his French contact, portrayed by Yul Brynner, he rises to become a key spy tasked with destroying an aircraft factory in England. However, things get complicated when MI5 considers using him as a double agent. “Triple Cross,” released in 1966, draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of Eddie Chapman, who was intended to serve as a technical consultant. His involvement was blocked by French authorities due to allegations concerning a scheme to abduct the Sultan of Morocco. Director Terence Young had known Chapman prior to the war and shared time with him on his initial mission in Britain—an assignment orchestrated by MI5 to boost his spirits before he returned to occupied Europe. I’ve described it as “James Bond lite” because Terence Young previously directed three early James Bond films starring Sean Connery, and several actors known for their roles in the 007 franchise appear here: Gert Fröbe, who embodied the villain in "Goldfinger," Claudine Auger, who played Domino in "Thunderball," and Francis De Wolff, who portrayed Valva in “From Russia with Love.” If you’re seeking a film that captures the atmosphere of World War II without extensive combat sequences—comparable to something like "The Night of the Generals" from the following year—then this is an enjoyable choice. A young Christopher Plummer delivers a surprisingly effective performance as the detached main character, and I appreciate the inclusion of the July 20, 1944, attempt on Adolf Hitler’s life in the film's conclusion (which served as the basis for Cruise’s “Valkyrie”). It shares similarities with "The Heroes of Telemark" from the previous year, although it doesn’t quite reach that level. The popular "Where Eagles Dare" arrived two years later. The runtime is a bit excessive, clocking in at approximately 2 hours and 15 to 20 minutes (though an American version runs about 126 minutes), and filming took place primarily in France with some additional work done in England. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB