Very disappointed :(

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

There are plenty of twists & turns in this highly cerebral cold war thriller. Russian military official Omar Sharif woos Julie Andrews in hopes of getting her to defect...or so Russia thinks. Director Blake Edwards put together this highly entertaining game of cat-and-mouse and elicits quite a bit of chemistry between Sharif & Andrews. He also had the good sense to populate the supporting cast with a lot of fine (mostly British) character actors. Anthony Quayle is very good as a very unpleasant spy and Dan O'Herlihy is excellent as an embassy official with a lot of secrets. As O'Herlihy's bitchy wife, Sylvia Syms steals each scene she's in. Still the film belongs to Sharif & Andrews and they make their outlandish situation believable. Excellent cinematography (in Barbados, Paris & London) by Freddie Young.

When a British civil servant strikes up a relationship with a member of the Russian intelligence she meets on holiday, the authorities on both sides grow increasingly alarmed. From the James Bond style opening credits to John Barry's gorgeous score, this is wonderful 70s spy territory. Who can be trusted? Is everyone who they seem or claim to be? Flitting between Paris and London, Granadas and Mercedes aplenty, Sharif is deliciously charming, relaxed and believable as Feodor Sverdlov. Each time we think we know what he's up to, he does or says something to make us doubt again. As a bitter and scheming diplomatic wife caught up in the subterfuge, Sylvia Syms steals every scene she's in, and well deserved the BAFTA nomination that year. Only Andrews looks uneasy, and whilst we believe Sharif's romantic intentions, she is so subdued throughout that we wonder whether it's meant or just wooden acting. Still, it's a great yarn, and worth a look.

One of my favourite Omar films....(then again, they are all my favourites, I'm very biased)...I wouldn't see the film for years as I couldn't imagine my Omar with Mary Poppins...a friend one day brought around the video and said 'watch it!'...I loved it...their convincing onscreen connection soon made me forget the Mary Poppins/Maria image and although still playing the squeaky clean innocent (as only Julie can), there was a lovely chemistry. I won't go into the plot as it's well described in many of the other reviews. My only criticism is the wardrobe...I know the seventies were bad but that white gown with the heavy necklace was hideous as were the prim and proper crisp polyester clothes they put Andrews in back in London....she's gorgeous and they could have done a lot more with her outfits...they could have lost Omar's peach shirt as well (but then again he tends to make anything look good!)...maybe the seventies were that bad...but I loved them and you should love this film.

"The Tamarind Seed" is sometimes classified as a spy thriller, however it doesn't really belong to that category. This is essentially a romance, make no mistake about that. Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif are very good in this film and make a highly believable screen couple. The pacing is slow and deliberate, but the plot should be intricate enough to keep you interested. I kept waiting for Andrews to burst out singing, but that never happened. Anthony Quayle and Sylvia Syms are excellent in supporting roles.Overall, "The Tamarind Seed" is a good movie for a Sunday afternoon.