A Dandy in Aspic

Krasnevin, a KGB agent and assassin, has infiltrated London society and the British Intelligence community by assuming the identity of Alexander Eberlin, a role played by Laurence Harvey. After Krasnevin is forced to kill several British agents who come too close to revealing his identity, British Intelligence Chief Fraser, Harry Andrews,—apparently unaware that Eberlin and Krasnevin are the same man—orders Eberlin to eliminate Krasnevin.

Krasnevin decides to sacrifice his KGB contact, Pavel, Per Oscarsson, who is already a suspect, but before Pavel can be killed the Russians do the job for him. British Intelligence learns that Krasnevin is still at large. Eberlin is paired with rival British agent Gatiss, Tom Courtenay, who has never liked Eberlin and suspects Eberlin’s allegiances. They are sent to West Berlin to apprehend Henderson, another double agent now suspected as Krasnevin.

Arriving in West Berlin with Eberlin’s lover, socialite and photographer Caroline Hetherington, Mia Farrow, Krasnevin’s paranoia grows as Gatiss begins to suspect that they are after the wrong man. On finding Henderson, Krasnevin quickly kills him before he can reveal Krasnevin’s identity. Their handlers in London then inform them Henderson was not Krasnevin. Gatiss makes an arrangement with KGB Bureau Chief Sobakevich, Lionel Stander: $100,000 USD for the identity of Krasnevin. Sobakevich, aware of Krasnevin’s identity and value, serves up another British agent, dead. Gatiss, angered because he wanted Krasnevin taken alive, kills Sobakevich. Their British handlers recall Eberlin and Gatiss to London.

Krasnevin briefly contacts his KGB handler and discovers that Fraser has known Krasnevin’s identity all along, and has just manipulated him and Gatiss into eliminating Krasnevin’s entire network.

With nowhere to run, Krasnevin forces a confrontation with Gatiss at the West Berlin airport, and the two agents kill each other.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:10