Very disappointing...

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Implausible plot. Cheesy special effects. One of the worst acted films I have ever seen. Stand wooden faced, then scowl and shout. Over and over. Given the caliber of the actors and since they were all doing it, I have to blame the director. Unwatchable. I gave it a two because it was not actively offensive, just really, really bad.-------------"And wasn't that Richard Attenborough playing the jeweler visited by the two men from New Scotland Yard"I thought the exact same thing. It was the highlight of the movie. Too bad he wasn't in the rest of the movie. He must have read the script.

The main attraction for watching this British made film was the promise of a thriller directed by a man that knew a thing, or two, about the genre, Don Siegel. This man, responsible for making the career of Clint Eastwood soar, was obviously not too inspired in bringing the Clive Egleton novel to the screen. Mr. Siegel, obviously, had probably little input with the Leigh Vance adaptation, which offers no big thrills to fans wanting to see more action, something this could have used. The picture was a tame entertainment given the fine cast that was engaged to give life to Mr. Egleton's book.Michael Caine plays Maj. John Tarrant, whose young son David has been kidnapped by people that are using him as a collateral. Mr. Caine, one of the most pleasant actors of his generation, is almost static, as the man that must do whatever in order to free his young son, while working within a system that at the end, betrays him. For that matter, Mr. Siegel got an almost catatonic acting from Janet Suzman, a fine actress, known mainly for her theatrical work.Donald Pleasence, an actor who was a welcome addition to any film, is fine as the fastidious man in charge of the rescue operation. John Vernon, who played a lot of heavies during his career, is at it again. The wonderful Delphine Seyrig shows up as part of the bad guys that are holding the young boy. The fine supporting English cast does as well as expected.

I usually enjoy Michael Caine's films, but though this one started promising enough, its second half made the overall effect disappointing. The most dissatisfying aspect was how Tarrant and his wife worked out exactly where their son was being held on the basis of a phone call from the Brighton area and the villain's reference to a "pleasant farm" and two "rather unusual windows"; this defied belief.Other contributors have already noted one witty reference, to "Sean Connery"; there is another, in that the Tarrants rendezvous outside a cinema where "Battle of Britain" (starring Caine) is showing.And wasn't that Richard Attenborough playing the jeweller visited by the two men from New Scotland Yard; this role appears not to feature in the filmographies I've glanced at.

Don Siegel goes to Europe and makes a terrific thriller...or at least a mostly terrific thriller. When British spy Michael Caine finds his son kidnapped, he's charged with coming up with some black market diamonds as ransom. Caine is great, if a bit too somber...even before he's told of the kidnapping! The always interesting John Vernon and Delphine Seyrig are the kinky kidnappers and Donald Pleasence is Caine's anal retentive boss. Janet Suzman is Caine's VERY angry estranged wife. THE BLACK WINDMILL is taut and suspenseful for most of its run, unfortunately Siegel forgot to include an ending so he simply has Michael Caine explain it.