Ben Larson There are parts of the movie where you think it might be a comedy. Bourne (Richard Chamberlain) running in Théoule-sur-Mer, France (Port Noir) with children following. He is never really convincing as a fighter. Maybe that is because we are used to the smoothness of Matt Damon in the later retelling of the story.The film is very 80's with the apparently suave and sophisticated Bourne in his knitted sweater taking care of the bad guys, and then the ladies.It is easy to tell that it was originally made for TV, as the story is almost broken down into "sound bites" so that you see whole but separate parts in between where each set of the commercials would go. It was fairly enjoyable if a little long winded at times. The story was quite good and the long running time enables a lot of character development which is lacking in the remake.

ebiros2 This is a fair or should I say more accurate portrayal of Jason Bourne from Robert Ludlum's novel. The new Matt Damon based "Bourne" was only made to make Matt Damon look good. It really lacked any sobriety.Richard Chamberlain, and Jaclyn Smith is a much more convincing as the characters they're portraying. They're also far better looking than Matt Damon, and the other chick that played their part.This is a made for TV movie and blows away the big budget Hollywood movie that's made years later. The movie is worth a watch because of the foresighted nature of Robert Ludlum's story. In the '80s, there was no one else talking about mind control, or a super soldier assassin. But in recent years, the now declassified MK ULTRA material emerged, and the fact that super soldier program like mentioned in this story indeed existed (and probably still does).Chamberlain has lot more expression as Jason Bourne than Matt Damon, which makes this an excellent mystery / action movie from the '80s.

jsalavar I flipped to this after seeing it on the channel guide thinking it was the Matt Damon version. I didn't know it had been a made-for-TV movie before Damon took a shot at it.I watched it for about 10 minutes and found it laughable. Maybe I didn't give it a chance but the action segment I saw with Chamberlin made him look more like a school teacher than an assassin.I can't recommend this to anyone as long as the Matt Damon version exists. Maybe I should read the book and then watch the 1988 version to see if it hold up better.OK, IMDb requires 10 lines of text. I have nothing more to say so this is just fluff talk.

Montserrat Casanova Although filmed in 1988 The Bourne Identity is still very actual, the fight against terrorism being very much on today's agenda as well. The two parts movie takes us mainly to Zürich, Paris and New York, to locations so beautifully chosen as to make the viewer wish he could visit them. A man looses his memory after being shot and enduring serious injuries. The story is his search of identity intelligently intertwined with the unfolding of an international secret services action to capture Carlos, a famous terrorist and assassin who kept the CIA and other intelligence agencies around the world on their toes for years. The writers of the script certainly had an arduous task condensing the complex plot, their talent created a compelling story, a sharp dialog without ever confusing the viewer. As mentioned The Bourne Identity unfolds in three different cities. In each of them new elements and characters are added thus making the pace of the show pick up momentum until it reaches a cathartic peak on E 71st street. The actor in the title role with whom we take the thrilling trip, rather roller-coaster ride, could only be Richard Chamberlain. His unique acting arc displays, with intensity, finesse and perfection, loving moments -- his face melting with love and crying for sadness when his failing memory catches glimpses of the past, his handsome and young body surrendering to the talented and attractive Jaclyn Smith who falls under the spell of this intriguing man -- and tough and violent moments paired with callousness, cold blood, swiftness of reactions, distress and cruel realizations as well as a formidable physical shape. Richard Chamberlain IS Jason Bourne and he is the one who keeps the viewer's attention tense during the entire movie. One of my preferred scenes is one confronting a French General played by the much missed Anthony Quayle and Jason Bourne/Richard Chamberlain, two great actors among the greatest, on stage and on the screen; so powerful a scene, it grips you, one almost forgets to breathe .... Magnificent acting, soldiers ! The Bourne Identity ends with a moral note, Jason Bourne/Richard Chamberlain once his mission accomplished questions the violence and the need for men to become monsters to fight monsters. In the very last scene, full of symbolism, our hero, tightly holding the arm of Marie St. Jacques/Jaclyn Smith walks out of a cemetery towards a new life where he hopes to make peace with himself and be capable of love again. A last word to say that Martin Rabbett is co-producer, adding his great talent to the list of those who made The Bourne Identity a big success.