The 1968 film “Assignment to Kill” dives into a gripping tale of insurance scams, conspiracy, and murder. The lead roles are played by Patrick O’Neal, Joan Hackett, and John Gielgud. This article explores where the film was shot, the people who brought it to life, and some fascinating unseen facts about this classic movie.
Where it Filmed?
“Assignment to Kill” was predominantly shot in four locations. The picturesque Hotel zum Storchen in Storchen, Zurich, Switzerland, and the busy streets of Warner Brothers Burbank Studios in Burbank, California, USA, were a major part of the film. The enchanting sights of St. Moritz in Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland and the beautiful city of Geneva, Canton de Genève, Switzerland also served as the backdrop for this thriller. The filming started on October 3, 1966.
Cast Details
| Cast Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Patrick O’Neal | Richard Cutting |
| Joan Hackett | Dominique Laurant |
| John Gielgud | Curt Valayan |
| Herbert Lom | Matt Wilson |
| Eric Portman | Notary |
| Peter van Eyck | Walter Green |
| Oscar Homolka | Inspector Ruff |
| Leon Greene | The Big Man |
| Kent Smith | Mr. Eversley |
| Philip Ober | Bohlen |
| Fifi D’Orsay | Mrs. Hennie |
| Karl Bruck | Waiter (uncredited) |
| Albert D’Arno | Waiter (uncredited) |
| Betty Freeman | Secretary (uncredited) |
| Walter Friedel | Secretary (uncredited) |
| Walter Janovitz | Waiter (uncredited) |
| Joanne Ludden | Receptionist (uncredited) |
| Martin Miller | Police Chief (uncredited) |
| Ann Prentiss | Hotel Party Girl in Red Dress (uncredited) |
| Charles H. Radilak | Manager (uncredited) |
| Erik Sorenson | Bellboy (uncredited) |
| Sheb Wooley | The Big Man’s Scream (uncredited) (archiveSound) |
Trivia and Facts
- Directed by Sheldon Reynolds, the film runs for 1 hour and 42 minutes.
- “Assignment to Kill” was also known by other titles in several countries: “The Assignment” (United States), “Les tueurs sont lâchés” (France), “Misión en Zurich” (Spain), “Beklenmeyen tuzak” (Turkey), and “Tehtävänä tappaa” (Finland).
- Trivia aficionados will appreciate the famous Wilhelm scream that can be heard when the hitman falls over the balcony at the end of a fight with the detective.
- The film had a pretty substantial budget estimated at $1,500,000.
- An interesting error occurred in a scene where Richard Cutting leaves a piece of paper with a secret account number next to a polished metal ashtray. When the camera cuts back to the table, the ashtray mysteriously transforms into a large bronze piece, and the paper’s folding and placement change as well.
- “Assignment to Kill” also had a memorable moment in pop culture when it was mentioned in a 2014 film called “Souvenir Shop; ELAIFF”.
Geo Location Details
- Location Name: Hotel zum Storchen, Weinplatz 2, Storchen, Zurich, Switzerland
- Latitude: 47.371281
- Longitude: 8.541774
- Place ID: ChIJFx0eqgAKkEcR9YDVzWpXjyc
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Weinpl. 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
- Timezone: Europe/Zurich
- Location Name: Warner Brothers Burbank Studios – 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
- Latitude: 34.1487314
- Longitude: -118.3386863
- Place ID: ChIJzYYbHsm_woAR4qXsM7ka5uQ
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91522, USA
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Location Name: St. Moritz, Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland
- Latitude: 46.4907973
- Longitude: 9.8355079
- Place ID: ChIJexrAbQeChEcRJXjJPr3bnyc
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: 7500 St Moritz, Switzerland
- Timezone: Europe/Zurich
- Location Name: Geneva, Canton de Genève, Switzerland
- Latitude: 46.2180073
- Longitude: 6.121692500000001
- Place ID: ChIJ5c1jUUNkjEcRgNgYQIj_AAE
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Geneva, Switzerland
- Timezone: Europe/Zurich
