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Operacija Ticijan
Operation Titian
Yugoslavia / USA 1963
produced by Roger Corman (co) for Avala Film
directed by Rados Novakovic
starring William Campbell, Rade Markovic, Patrick Magee, Miha Baloh, Vjekoslav Afric, Irena Prosen, Manja Golec, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Tomanija Djuricko, Dragomir Felba, Fuli Ivernici, Jovica Jojic, Katica Labas, Mise Martinovic, Ivo Pericevic, Milenko Ristic, Tomislav Suljak, Mirko Svec, Dusan Tadic
written by Vlastimir Radovanovic, music by Bojan Adamic
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Dubrovnik: A presumably lost painting by Titian is stolen from an
eccentric art collector - but since it's more than probable that that
painting was just a copy, and not a very good one, that wouldn't be such a
big deal if the art collector wasn't also murdered for it. Detective Miha
(Rade Markovic) picks up investigations, sided by his future
brother-in-law, reporter Danny (Miha Baloh), and they soon figure the
killer to be Dr. Maurizio (Patrick Magee), even though they're slow to
collect evidence and Maurizio is quicker than quick to evade them and even
kill his blackmailing girlfriend along the way. In the meantime, Danny's
wife-to-be Vera (Irena Posen) feels more than a bit neglected with her
fiancé being on a wild goose chase rather than preparing their wedding
with her, so - probably to make him jealous - she gets in touch with a
former boyfriend of hers, Tony (William Campbell) - not knowing of course
that he's deeply involved with the case, and putting herself at risk
unvoluntarily ... Taken by its own merits, Operation Titian
isn't really all that much of a film, rather a mediocre, over-convoluted
crime movie that is however beautifully shot, making the best of its
Dubrovnik locations and showing a great eye for framing on top of that.
But that's about as good as it gets, neither story nor characters nor
acting really manage to carry this movie. That said, Operation Titian
is also chapter one of one of those great Hollywood legends as only
legendary producer Roger Corman could write them: Apparently he
co-produced Operation Titian, but displeased with the results, had
some footage removed, altered and added to try to sell it as Portrait
in Terror two years later, then shoot a whole new movie called Blood
Bath around the footage by his go-to directors of the day Jack Hills
and Stephanie Rothman to make this one work for drive-in audiences. If
Corman was at all successful with this on a quality level is left to
anybody's judgment ... but it makes an amazing story!
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