The Last Spy – REVIEW

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Our editor jokingly believes he might be the next James Bond – about as likely as getting a legitimate phone call these days. But the subject of this piece, The Last Spy, is a real-life spymaster, Peter Sichel, who recently turned 100. He has an incredible life story and remains remarkably sharp and remembers details vividly, even at his age.

What The Last Spy did…

He was a German Jewish refugee who survived the Holocaust and built a successful career, eventually becoming a key figure in the US’s first intelligence agency. He later led CIA stations in Europe and Hong Kong. He’s known for being very open and critical about certain CIA actions, particularly those aimed at destabilizing countries like Guatemala. The job was incredibly demanding, and it understandably affected his personal life. Despite this, his family continues to admire him and his contributions. It’s difficult to picture figures like Melania or Hillary Clinton having a similar background or experience.

Katharina Otto-Bernstein’s documentary combines interviews with Sichel – where he shares surprisingly candid thoughts without revealing classified information – with historical footage and conversations with former CIA agents and journalists, including Carl Bernstein. What makes the story even more striking is that it unfolded in a bygone era of heavy drinking, constant cigarette smoke, and occasional reckless behavior – as our editor jokingly describes it, a typical Tuesday (‘You’re fired!’ – Ed).

Even though David Sichel died in 2025, his book, The Last Spy, offers a compelling look into the secretive world of espionage and the underlying motivations that likely still exist today.

Here’s the trailer….

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2026-04-24 20:23