Overcoming a rather stodgy opening, Operation Amsterdam (1959) eventually develops into a decent wartime actioner with spy-genre elements. Set just as the Nazis are invading the Netherlands, it involves a daring operation to evacuate the diamond wealth of the nation from Amsterdam before the German occupation begins. The mission is led by British intelligence officer Dillon (Tony Britton), but hinges largely on two Dutch jewelers — Jan Smit (Peter Finch) and Walter Kaiser (Alexander Knox), whose local knowledge make them integral to the operation. Delivered by British destroyer to a city under siege, Smit, Kaiser, and Dillon must convince the local dealers to entrust their diamonds to them for transport to the Dutch government-in-exile in London, then smuggle them out of the country. Along the way, they recruit Anna (Eva Bartok), a troubled young woman with both a car and a personal reason to aid them, leading her to become their getaway travel. Leveraging local connections, they navigate the danger-filled streets of Amsterdam laboring to keep untold wealth from falling into enemy hands.
Operation Amsterdam feels flat and stiff in its earliest moments, setting the stage with stock footage and blusterous narration as its three intrepid, if rather bland, heroes are introduced. The film picks up when they arrive in Amsterdam and connect with Anna, whose suspicious presence adds a spark of intrigue — not to mention a just-right hint of chemistry between Bartok and Finch, who ultimately brings the most personality to his role, showing signs of the major star he would become. It’s not especially satisfying as a spy film, perhaps too structurally simplistic for that. But it’s a reasonably diverting as an action-adventure yarn, thanks to low-key suspense punctuated by moments of explosive action.
