The Bourne Identity (1988, TV-Mini-Series)

Synopsis:

A half-dead man (Richard Chamberlain, The Count of Monte Cristo) washes ashore on a French beach. The stranger seems to be suffering from amnesia — he doesn’t remember his name or anything about his past. When all sorts of mysterious people try to kill him, the stranger embarks on a quest to find out his true identity.

Reaction & Thoughts:

“Wealth is relative to the time we have to enjoy it.”

I really enjoyed this adaptation of author Robert Ludlum’s espionage novel of the same name. I know this is going to sound a little crazy to fans of the highly-acclaimed Bourne franchise, but I actually prefer this two-part mini-series to the movies, with Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting) as the title character. The TV program is well-crafted, and suspenseful. It also features outstanding performances by a fine cast.

I like narratives that don’t feel rushed. This version of Ludlum’s cloak & dagger tale takes its time to develop characters and situations. Director Roger Young (Murder in Mississippi) and writer by Carol Sobieski (Fried Green Tomatoes) allow the intricate plot to breathe on its own, and the main characters are fleshed out nicely — it is all done in a low-key manner, and without any elaborate visual tricks.

Richard Chamberlain was nicknamed “King of Mini-series” thanks to his work in many classic TV shows like Shōgun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983). The Bourne Identity is another triumph for Chamberlain. It’s a clever piece of casting. The lanky actor looks more like an unassuming college professor than a skillful super-spy, so when he suddenly turns into a killing machine, you are surprised to say the least.

Jacklyn Smith (Kelly Garrett from iconic TV show Charlie’s Angels), who plays an economist from Canada, is less effective. She’s a gorgeous woman, but I’m not sure if she was the right person for the role of Chamberlain’s love interest.

Smith plays a cliché character anyway — the kidnapped lady who falls for her captor. I’ve always found the much-used “Stockholm Syndrome romance” both amusing and offensive. It feels like some weird male fantasy that has nothing to do with reality. I think a better actor would have risen above the inherited ridiculousness of such a character, but Smith and Chamberlain look good together, so it’s all good.

The first-rate cast also includes Anthony Quale (Lawrence of Arabia) as a French General and Denholm Elliott (Raiders of the lost Ark) as an alcoholic physician who helps Chamberlain’s character. Donald Moffat (The Right Stuff) plays a CIA agent. I also liked Laurence Rosenthal’s (The Miracle Worker) ominous music score. The handsome cinematography is by Tony Pierce-Roberts’s (A Room with a View).

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

The Bourne Identity is an old-school, but gripping mini-series. I’m always game for a stylish piece of escapism, but as I get older, I’m more inclined to like something less flashy. Call it midlife crisis or escapism fatigue, but I thought this mini-series was better than the Matt Damon movies. In any case, all movie adaptations of Robert Ludlum’s book are recommended to fans of spy stories. Color, 185 minutes, Not Rated.

Trailer: