NO ROSES FOR OSS 117: Spy Novel Set in Isfahan Turned into French Movie Classic

OSS 117 is the codename for Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, a fictional secret agent initially from the pen of the prolific Jean Bruce. Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath is described as being an American Colonel from Louisiana of French descent. After service in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), de La Bath worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), then the National Security Council (NSC). In the real-life OSS, code number 117 was allocated to William L. Langer, who was chief of the Research and Analysis Branch of the OSS.

Bruce wrote 91 OSS 117 novels for the French publishing house Fleuve Noir Espionnage series beginning with Tu parles d’une ingénue (Ici OSS 117) in 1949, predating Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 by four years.

Opening Scene of “No Roses For OSS 117” Notice the reference to the original title “No Roses From Isfahan For OSS 117” of Jean Bruce’s Novel in the Credits:

“Pas De Roses D’Ispahan Pour OSS 117” aka “No Roses From Isfahan for OSS 117” was in Iran in the 1960’s. It was adapted on screen under the title “No Roses for OSS 117” and Shot in Tunisia with American Star John Gavin ( Later US Ambassador to Mexico during the Reagan Administration) best known for his role in Hitchcock’s Pysco and Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus and French Star of Persian Heritage Robert Hossein ( Son of Music composer Aminollah Hussein) and German Star Curd Jurgens ( The Longest Day, The Spy Who Loved Me).


Other American Film Stars aiming at a European Career also played the Role including Kerwin Mathews ( best known for playing Sinbad in Ray Harryhausen’s Film):

BANCO À BANGKOK POUR OSS 117 Trailer:

Frederik Strafford ( who starred in Hitchcock’s TOPAZ) in “Atout Coeur a Tokyo pour OSS 117”:

Frederik Strafford in Furia A Bahia Pour OSS 117 (1965):

Trailer for the Most Corny “OSS 117 Is Not Dead”. Directed by Jean Sacha and starring Ivan Desny:

From the Orient with Fury (1965) Starring Ken Clark:

Scene From From the Orient with Fury (1965):

 

OSS 117 has become something of a movie buff’s iconic spy character like a French James Bond which has since been parodied in a remake with French Star Jean Dujardin:

OSS 117: Rio Doesn’t Answer (Rio Ne Répond Plus, with subtitles):

 

 

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