Before Colonel Klink, Werner Klemperer worked regularly as a character actor. In this "Thriller," Klemperer is a master villain who bothers Mort Sahl. Sahl overhears the kidnapping plot of an heiress. Of course, no one believes Sahl and they blame him when the heiress disappears.
The reason to watch "Man in the Middle" is for Werner Klemperer's performance and one wonders how the actor would have done as a James Bond villain.