The film is full of set pieces that are nearly up to 007 at his groomed best, except that Michael Cain is no mere gamesman at showing off. He makes peril seem real.

The Black Windmill commits the one crime no thriller can be pardoned for. It's not thrilling. It's also terribly passive and static, and Siegel directs Caine almost to a standstill.

...a rewarding watch for fans of Michael Caine, and director Don Siegel...

Caine, as usual, eats up every scene and the writing cleverly serves up a number of red herrings.