Blood Beast from Outer Space (1965)

- Night Caller from Outer Space
A talky, but enjoyable little B&W sci-fi thriller, 6 December 2008

A strange orb is found in the outskirts of London. The orb is soon determined to be a matter transference device sent to Earth from one of Jupiter's moons. It seems this alien civilization is bent on sending one of their own to Earth, but for what purpose? When a string of 20+ young women goes missing, the orbs monstrous purpose becomes much clearer.

Night Caller from Outer Space is a rather talky, but enjoyable little B&W sci-fi thriller. Highlights for me include the mystery elements of the story from the first ¾ of the film's runtime, seeing John Saxon in such a decidedly British production, the unknown creature lurking in the shadows, and some outstanding cinematography (in fact, the film looks far better than it has any right to given it's obviously modest budget). The biggest weakness, unfortunately, comes in the final moments of the movie. The ending of Night Caller from Outer Space is such a let-down and non-event that it really takes away from everything that came before. As the movie ended, I sat in amazement and said to myself, "That's it? You've got to be kidding." It's a very lame payoff. Night Caller from Outer Space deserved better than that. Finally, Night Caller from Outer Space includes some really cool period shots of London at night from the mid-60s. I always get a kick out of that sort of thing.

6/10

Jonny Quest "Terror Island" #1.24 (1965) (TV)

Giant bugs run amuck, 12 March 2010

Jonny, Hadji, and Race are desperate to find Dr. Quest after he's been kidnapped. Dr. Quest has been taken to the secret lab of Dr. Chu Sing Ling – a scientist working on a secret formula that turns insects into giants. Dr. Ling wants Quest's assistance. Naturally, Dr. Quest refuses and faces the prospect of being fed to one of Dr. Ling's creations. Will the rest of the gang arrive in time to save Dr. Quest?

While Terror Island is reasonably fun and feels something like an homage to the 1950s era giant bug movies I love so much, for whatever reason, I don't care for this episode as much as some others. Sure, I enjoyed the rampaging giant bug action, but I have a couple of problems with Terror Island. First, this may sound silly when talking about Jonny Quest, but Terror Island lacks the "real" feeling I enjoy in other episodes. This one is sci-fi all the way - with an emphasis on the fi part. I can go along with all the spy stuff, the robots, and even the prehistoric creatures you usually find in Jonny Quest, but this episode pushes credibility too far. (Please remember, when I use words like "real" or "credibility", I'm using them in the context of the Jonny Quest world – not the world you and I live in.)

My second problem is with Dr. Ling's rather sketchy plan. I'm not sure he ever says why he's trying to create an army of giant insects – he just is. Even the most deranged of the Jonny Quest baddies has some sort of explanation for what they're up to. Again, it takes away from the realism (relatively speaking once again).

In the end, despite the problems I have with the episode, this is still Jonny Quest and its still fun. I'll give Terror Island a 6/10.

6/10

Jonny Quest "The House of Seven Gargoyles" #1.23 (1965) (TV)

What an episode!, 11 March 2010

The Quest Team heads to the fjords of Norway to pay a visit to one of Dr. Quest's old friends, Dr. Ericson. Dr. Ericson has invented an anti-gravity device that may have drawn some unwanted attention. Even though no one will believe him, Jonny is sure he spotted a submarine in the nearby fjord. Next, once at Dr. Ericson's, Jonny is certain he's seen one of the stone gargoyles that guard the castle move. Again, no one believes him. Opinions on Jonny's eyesight change, however, when Dr. Ericson's discovery is stolen from the castle by foreign agents.

Based mostly on recollections from my childhood, there are what I would consider to be three iconic Jonny Quest episodes. These three episodes represent not only what I call the best of Jonny Quest, but they're filled with moments and images I'll never forget. The three episodes in question – The Curse of Anubis, The Robot Spy, and The House of Seven Gargoyles. I've already written about the first two, so now I'm on to third. To begin with, what a name – The House of Seven Gargoyles! How cool is that? It just evokes mystery and suspense. And what about the human gargoyle? I'll never forget the first time I saw this episode – it gave me chills for days. The image of the gargoyle coming to life and creeping through the castle corridors is the stuff of nightmares. Add to that clandestine meetings in a graveyard, spies in a submarine, and a stolen anti-gravity device and you've got one rock solid Jonny Quest episode. With no hesitation, I rate The House of Seven Gargoyles a 9/10.

Another thing that always creeps me out about this episode is the gargoyle Jonny is given in the final scene. Looking at the statue sitting between Jonny and Hadji in the backseat of the car, I'm always waiting for its eyes to open. Creepy stuff!

9/10

Jonny Quest "The Quetong Missile Mystery" #1.22 (1965) (TV)

I can't believe it - an episode I've never seen!, 5 March 2010

While visiting some unnamed Southeast Asian country, Dr. Quest is asked by the local authorities to look into the strange happenings in the nearby Swamp Lake. None of the police patrols that have gone into the swamp have returned. What lurks in these murky waters? How about a band of ninja types guarding a secret missile installation. Things could get quite tricky for the Quest Team.

A few random things about The Quetong Missile Mystery:

- To my utter surprise and delight, I realized almost immediately that I had never seen The Quetong Missile Mystery. I'm not sure how I missed it either when I was younger or when I went through the episodes when I bought the DVDs. But how cool – a new episode!

- The bad guys in The Quetong Missile Mystery are great. The black clad ninja-types in the trees, the traitor Lt. Singh, and the head baddie General Fong are an impressive cast of villains. One of my favorite bits comes near the end when Gen. Fong barks the orders to catch and kill the Quest Team. You wouldn't see anything like that in today's overly PC cartoons. Fong is just awesome.

- I knew I recognized the voice of Commissioner Wah and was delighted to discover Keye Luke's name in the credits. How cool is it that Keye Luke provides some of the voices for this episode? To me, it's just about the coolest thing I've run across in a Jonny Quest episode. I know he did a lot of things, but as a huge fan of Charlie Chan, Keye Luke will always be #1 son Lee.

Overall, The Quetong Missile Mystery is another great installment in the Jonny Quest series. I'll give it an 8/10.

8/10

Jonny Quest "The Devil's Tower" #1.21 (1965) (TV)

Von Duffel is as mad as a hatter, 5 March 2010

Dr. Quest and Race set out to retrieve a scientific balloon that has crashed atop an escarpment known as The Devil's Tower. Race leaves Dr. Quest and returns to camp to pick-up the boys. Back on top of the escarpment, Dr. Quest is no where to be found. Instead, Race, Jonny, and Hadji run into a tribe of cavemen. They also run into a Nazi war criminal known as Von Duffel who has been using the cavemen to mine a load of precious diamonds. Can the whole gang escape the mad Von Duffel or, using Race's plane, will Von Duffel make his own escape?

While not the greatest of episodes, The Devil's Tower is still highly entertaining. Von Duffel is as good a baddie as the Quest Team face in any episode. And by good, I mean he's so stark raving mad that he seems quite capable of anything. Von Duffel's appearance is also a highlight. His stark skeletal features are nicely drawn. He reminds me quite a bit of the Crypt Keeper in appearance. The only real weakness of the episode comes in the final chase scenes as Jonny and family attempt to escape while Von Duffel attacks from overhead in the plane. It's exciting and all, but it feels too much like the finale of an earlier Jonny Quest episode, Shadow of the Condor. Still, a quality entry in the series that I rate a 7/10.

7/10

Jonny Quest "The Invisible Monster" #1.20 (1965) (TV)

Scared the pants off me as a child, 28 February 2010

Dr. Isaiah Norman, an old friend and colleague of Dr. Quest, calls with a frantic request for help. His latest experiment involving molecular energy has gotten out of control with devastating results. Somehow, Dr. Norman has created an invisible creature made of pure energy. It exists solely to consume more energy. The Quest Team quickly boards their plane to head off on another adventure. But will they get there in time to save Dr. Norman?

Finally, my run of bad luck with Jonny Quest is over. The Invisible Monster is one of those episodes that stands out. And why not? An effective monster, cool jet packs, and characters that actually die – it's got all the makings of a first rate Jonny Quest episode. It was the kind of episode that 40 years ago would have had my lights on all night. It was that scary! Watching today, I may have slept comfortably, but I can still recognize class when I see it. It's truly one of the most memorable of all of the Jonny Quest episodes. One thing I noticed looking at it today, the monster doesn't have the same polished appearance of the other artwork from Jonny Quest. It's a simple design with colors that change from frame to frame. But I guess with a creature made of molecular energy, you could do almost anything with it and it would look okay. And that solitary eye – creepy! And that noise – even creepier. I love it! The Invisible Monster easily gets an 8/10 from me.

8/10

Jonny Quest "Attack of the Tree People" #1.19 (1965) (TV)

A ruddy average episode, 25 February 2010

When compared with the previous three episodes, Attack of the Tree People isn't half bad. But, when compared with some of the better episodes of the Jonny Quest series, it doesn't look so good. In this one, after an accident at sea, Jonny and Hadji are separated from Dr. Quest and Race and end up in a thick, jungle type setting. The boys aren't alone for long as they are quickly befriended by a band of friendly apes. Unfortunately, there are also two gun-runners lurking nearby who see ransoming the boys as a way to make a quick buck. In the end, it's not Dr. Quest and Race who save the boys – instead, the apes save everyone.

Okay, first for the good – I really enjoyed the two would-be kidnappers, Silkey and Topper, and their thick cockney accents. The two sound like they're straight out of the chimney sweep scene in Mary Poppins. I think every sentence they utter includes the word "ruddy". As for the bad – look no further than the apes or "Tree People" of the episodes title. The fact that these wild apes act nothing like wild apes is just too silly. It might not have been so bad if there had been some explanation for their behavior, but there's nothing to indicate why these apes act as they do. The rest of the episode is pretty uneventful. As with the other recent episodes I've watched, there's nothing worth getting overly excited about. In the end, the best I can say about Attack of the Tree People is that it's a thoroughly average episode of an excellent series. A 5/10 seems about right.

5/10

Jonny Quest "Pirates from Below" #1.18 (1965) (TV)

I'm in the middle of an awfully dry stretch, 25 February 2010

Dr. Quest newest invention is an underwater vehicle (sorry, I can't remember what they called it) that sort of rolls across the bottom of the ocean floor. The invention becomes the target of a group of baddies who want the vehicle for themselves to sell off to the highest bidder. Race and Jonny get mixed-up in the hijacking and it's up to Dr. Quest and Hadji to save the day.

I hate to have to give another Jonny Quest episode such a poor rating, but I don't have much choice. Pirates from Below just isn't that good and has very little to recommend. In a word, it's pretty dull. I've had similar problems with the previous two episodes. When I think about these three episodes, they all suffer the same weakness – the lack of a compelling or interesting villain or other threat. The pirates in this episode, the loggers in Werewolf of the Timberland, and the nondescript bad guys in The Fraudulent Volcano can't begin to compare with the spider-like robot of The Robot Spy, the threatening mummy from The Curse of Anubis, or the dragon pit found in Dragons of Ashida. Those episodes presented adversaries and situations that were suspenseful and frightening. I know things pick-up later on in the Jonny Quest series and there are some really good episodes to come, but right now, I'm in the middle of an awfully dry stretch.

4/10

Jonny Quest "Werewolf of the Timberland" #1.17 (1965) (TV)

Another weak episode, 23 February 2010

Jonny Quest and family find themselves deep in the Canadian wood. They're terrorized by a group of baddies posing as loggers, but these guys are the least of the Quest Team's worries. Legend has it these woods are the hunting ground of a werewolf – or loup-garou. Fortunately, a mysterious figure known as White Feather and his wolf companion come to Jonny and Hadji's aid.

Considering Werewolf of the Timberland features a werewolf (at least a werewolf legend), it should be a lot more enjoyable. While I find it more entertaining that the previous episode, The Fraudulent Volcano, it's not by much. A couple of the problems I have with this episode include the character White Feather and the ineffective gang of French-Canadian baddies. I've never been much for the magical, mythical portrayals of Indians . . . err, Native Americans. You know, the talking to animals, moving like the wind - it's all a bit too much for me to take. As for the French-Canadian baddies, their so ineffective they're almost comical. And that werewolf costume – how bad does that look? And why do all Canadian bad guys have to have these impossibly ridiculous French accents? It's too silly!

5/10

Honey West "A Neat Little Package" #1.10 (1965) (TV)

"Fights, knives, guns, hoods - boy, what a life!", 27 January 2010

A man with amnesia discovers he has a package containing $175,000 dollars in his possession and no idea where it came from. With a hotel key as their only real clue, Honey and Sam set out to solve the mystery.

What a fun episode! A Neat Little Package might not be perfect and it might not be my favorite episode, but there's no denying how entertaining it is. What's not to love – Honey goes undercover in an Asian restaurant (complete with long, dark hair), Sam has some great scenes while running the client's newsstand, and there's a final fight scene with Honey, Sam, and all the bad guys in knee deep water. It's a lot to pack into 25 minutes, but director Murray Golden makes it work. As I've written before, one of the cool things about Honey West is spotting all the familiar faces. A Neat Little Package features J. Pat O'Malley as amnesia victim Francis Grady. Who's J. Pat O'Malley I can hear you ask? I promise – if you're a fan of 60s/70s TV, you'd know him in a heartbeat if you saw his face. Just look up his credits – he was in everything. Overall, a solid effort that's worth at least the 7/10 I've given it.

7/10

Honey West "The Princess and the Paupers" #1.7 (1965) (TV)

"Hey look, man, you go to your barber and I'll stay away from mine.", 22 January 2010

One of the cool things about watching Honey West is all of the familiar faces that pop-up in almost every episode. Whether it's Ray Danton or Leon Askin or Herb Edelman (you might not know the name, but trust me, you'd recognize the face), I have fun with each episode playing "Name the Character Actor". In The Princess and the Paupers, there's not one, but two faces that jumped out at me. Michael J. Pollard, who would go on to appear in a number of "bigger" things including Bonnie and Clyde, and Bobby Sherman, who would go on to be a teen heart throb, make appearances in this Honey West Episode. Pretty cool casting if you ask me. They play two thirds of a rock trio. Sherman, as Nicky Van, is kidnapped and his wealthy father is sent a ransom note. Honey and Company are hired to make the drop. But the kidnappers get greedy and ask for a second, larger amount of money. In addition to the two recognizable "faces" in the cast, The Princess and the Paupers features a fairly interesting plot with a couple of twists along the way. It's amazing how much you can pack into 25 minutes if you don't' worry about things like character development. Unfortunately, though, the final twist is too predictable and the end doesn't come as much of a surprise as I'm sure it was probably intended. Still, it's a fun episode with some circa 1965 pop music, the mod fashions, and that groovy hair. It's a real hoot. And the final scene with Honey gently dancing in her chair as Nicky Van plays some loopy pop song is a scream.

7/10

Honey West "The Swingin' Mrs. Jones" #1.1 (1965) (TV)

"We've already done our worst.", 22 January 2010

The Swingin' Mrs. Jones provides a wonderful opening to the Honey West series. Other than Honey's sweet ride, everything else that made the series so watchable and so fun is here. In The Swingin' Mrs. Jones, Honey is hired by a wealthy widow who's being blackmailed over some indiscreet photos taken of her at a vacation resort. This being 1965, it all sounds so innocent – like maybe someone has something as scandalous as photos of the woman holding hands with a gentleman caller. Anyway, Honey goes undercover as a rich woman on the make in order to find the blackmailer. Highlights of this episode include – some pretty cool fight scenes, the old lady disguise, smoke bomb earrings, a microphone hidden in a martini olive (some of the gadgets in Honey West would make even James Bond envious), Sam's ridiculous cover as an obnoxious playboy named Touch, and the recurring theme of Honey getting conked on the head and knocked out. Another big highlight for me in The Swingin' Mrs. Jones is Ray Danton in the supporting cast. The man was as cool as a glass of iced tea in Antarctica. The man had a sense of style and a presence about him that few could match. Finally, while some may complain that Honey West's half-hour format kept things like plot and character development to a minimum, I really like the fast-paced, never-a-dull-moment feel to all of the episodes. It works for me.

8/10

Honey West "A Matter of Wife and Death" #1.4 (1965) (TV)

I've only seen four episodes so far, but this is my favorite, 20 January 2010

Somewhere on the web (if I could remember where, I would give due credit), I read Honey West described as the "coolest show you've never seen". A more apt description I couldn't come up with no matter how hard I tried. Every thing from the gadgets to Bruce the ocelot to the hidden panel in Honey's office to the far-out spy plots is about as cool as you could find on this side of the Atlantic in 1965. But the best part of Honey West is easily Anne Francis. Instead of gushing on for several sentences, I'll just say "WOW"! I bought the Honey West DVD set when it first came out, but only got around to busting it open this week. I had originally planned to write a short review of each episode, but at 24 or so minutes, there's not a lot of ground to cover. That is until I watched A Matter of Wife and Death. Of the first four episodes in the series, this is by far the best.

Honey and Sam are hired to protect a woman named Maggie Lynch. It seems that someone wants her dead and, unfortunately, there are no shortage of suspects. I'm not going to give it away – instead, I'll just say that I had no idea where the plot was headed. There's some real mystery and suspense in A Matter of Wife and Death – no mean feat for a 24 minute television program. It's solid writing from Tony Barret that makes this episode work. Well, the writing and some well choreographed (well choreographed for Honey West, that is) fight scenes, a few funny moments from Aunt Meg, and Anne Francis anytime she's on screen. For anyone new to the series, A Matter of Wife and Death would make a good jumping-off point. I'll be generous and give it an 8/10.

8/10

A Pistol for Ringo (1965)

- Una pistola per Ringo
"Early to bed, early to rise, gets you shot between the eyes.", 30 October 2009

The leader of a band of Mexican outlaws is wounded as the group makes its getaway after a bank robbery. The bandits decide to hold-up at a nearby ranch. The outlaw leader, Sancho (Fernando Sancho), threatens to kill two hostages per day unless he and his gang are allowed passage to Mexico. The local sheriff feels hamstrung as he fears for the life of his girl, one of the hostages, if he makes a move against the bandits. Reluctantly, he turns to a prisoner he's holding, Ringo (Giuliano Gemma), for help. The plan – have Ringo, an outlaw himself, infiltrate the group and work from the inside to free the prisoners.

A Pistol for Ringo is an interesting and entertaining early Spaghetti Western. It's interesting to me because I look at it as something of a bridge between the traditional Hollywood Westerns and the Euro-Westerns just getting cranked-up in 1965. It's a mix of old and new. Old – costumes, the unrealistic portrayal of violence (no blood), and the lack of dirt (it always bugs me that no one in old Westerns ever gets dirty). New – the anti-hero, bandits like Sancho, the body count, and crazy plot points and twists. It's really cool to see these different elements blended into one movie like A Pistol for Ringo. As for entertaining, well it's just fun. Lighter feeling than some of the other early Spaghetti Westerns, A Pistol for Ringo has something of a playful tone to it despite the violence. The script is well written and includes many interesting pieces of dialogue – the bit about what makes men different in Texas being one of my favorites. The script also includes a well written, but heart wrenching, twist near the end that I really didn't see coming. It completely caught me off-guard. Director Duccio Tessari keeps things moving at a nice pace with lots of action, gun fights, and interesting set-pieces throughout. The acting is a real highlight. Gemma, Sancho, and the beautiful Susan Scott (Nieves Navarro) help make A Pistol for Ringo worth watching. Finally, there's Ennio Morricone's score. It's what I've come to expect from Morricone – wonderful

7/10

She (1965)

She Who Bored Me, 7 September 2009

She is set in Palestine circa 1918. British archaeologist Holly (Peter Cushing) and his two buddies are given a map to the lost city of Kuma. After a long and arduous journey, they discover Kuma and meet a mysterious, beautiful woman known only as She Who Must Be Obeyed. She has been alive for 2,000 years, waiting for the return of her true love. She believes that Holly's pal, Leo, is her long lost love. Her plan is to have Leo jump through the flame of eternal life so that the two can be together forever.

I really thought I was going to like this one, but it's just too blankety-blank-blank dull for my liking. The movie has it's moments, but overall it's about as exciting as watching grass grow or paint dry or any other old cliché you can think of to describe something this wretchedly uninteresting. I suppose that the last act is reasonably entertaining, but the rest is a chore to sit through. Take that "exciting" trek across the desert for example. Wow – there are more thrills in watching snails race. Top-billed Ursula Andress may have been a beautiful woman, but she exhibits no screen presence and even less acting ability. I was much more impressed with the servant girl Ustane played by Rosenda Monteros. That's who Leo should have jumped through the fire with. Cushing is Cushing – always the professional and always watchable. I'll also admit that I did get a few chuckles out of the very British and very proper valet Job (Bernard Cribbins). Speaking of chuckles, what was up with Christopher Lee and his increasingly ludicrous head-wear? By the end of the film, how could you not laugh at the pineapple looking headpiece he was wearing? The film's score didn't help matters much at all. Its monotony only serves to add a sense of lethargy to She – something the movie really doesn't need. Finally, I know Hammer often did wonders with small budgets and I'm usually willing to overlook some of these budget related weaknesses, but She has some terribly atrocious looking matte paintings. My son could have done better with a box of 64 Crayolas. Overall, I much prefer the 1935 version of She with Randolph Scott. It's not perfect, but it's not as dull as this one. A 4/10 from me.

4/10

Operation Crossbow (1965)

Entertaining WWII thriller, 31 July 2009

Operation Crossbow is a solid espionage thriller set in WWII. The plot concerns the British/Allies attempt to get saboteurs inside German rocket facilities. The British have taken huge hits from the V1 and the other Allies rightly fear the more deadly V2. Three candidates are selected, given credentials allowing them to pose as Dutch engineers, and sent off to infiltrate and help destroy the Reich's most secret weapons development program.

Not being a WWII scholar, I'm not sure how historically accurate Operation Crossbow really is. But really, who cares? Operation Crossbow was never meant to be a scholarly work – it's a piece of fluff entertainment. And for the most part, it succeeds at being entertaining. While the movie may get off to a slow start, the action and suspense of the third act make up for most all of the films perceived shortcomings. The film's finale in an underground Nazi rocket facility is very reminiscent of James Bond and just as thrilling. And even if the movie does get off to a slow start, I found the bits about Nazi test pilot Hannah Reitsch interesting. Most of the cast is excellent. With few exceptions, George Peppard and the rest of the cast turn in fine performances. There are some nice special effects sequences worth mentioning. In particular, the bombing of London was very well handled. The only significant complaints I can come up with involve Trevor Howard and Sophia Loren. Howard's not necessarily bad in his role, but his character, the eternally pessimistic Professor Lindemann, is so annoying I wanted to wring his neck each time he popped-up on screen. As for Sophia Loren, she's a wonderful actress and I enjoy most of her work, but in all honestly, Operation Crossbow would have been a tighter, more enjoyable movie without her. Her character brings ZERO to the movie and her scenes are not important to what came before or what comes after. Her screen time is limited to 15 or 20 minutes that only serve to kill the film's flow. She may get top billing, but that's for her name only. Still, even with these flaws, I've always enjoyed Operation Crossbow and can easily rate it a 7/10.

7/10

That Man in Istanbul (1965)

- Estambul 65
Lots of good action in this 60s Euro-Spy effort, 30 June 2009

The U.S. government is double-crossed when they pay a $1 million ransom for the return of a top scientist. They lose both the money and the scientist. Agent Kenny (Sylva Koscina) is sent to Istanbul to investigate. She enlists the aid of a gambler named Tony Mescenas (Horst Buchholz) to assist her in finding the scientist with the promise that he can keep the $1 million. The trail leads Tony and Kenny through the streets, masques, and waterways of Istanbul. Will the U.S. government get what it wants? Will Tony get what he wants? And will Kenny get out alive?

That Man in Istanbul is a very good entry in the 1960s Euro-Spy cannon. While the film may lack some of the usual over-the-top spy accoutrements, it doesn't lack in exciting chase scenes, gun play, or fist fights. In fact, the action is pretty much non-stop. Director Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi keeps the pace at a high level throughout most of the film. The fight at the top of the masque tower, Tony's jump to the boat, and the underwater knife fight are real highlights. Both of the film's leads, Horst Buchholz and Sylva Koscina, turn in more than competent performances. A solid supporting cast, particularly Klaus Kinski and Gustavo Re, is more than up to the task. Throw in a bit of humor, suspense, intrigue, and some wonderful shots of 1960s era Istanbul and you've got the makings of a very entertaining film. If I have a couple of complaints they would be Koscina's screen time (she's absent for most of the second act) and the overall length of the movie (cutting 15 or 20 minutes would help). Still, a very enjoyable experience. I'll give it a 7/10.

7/10

From the Orient with Fury (1965)

- Agente 077 dall'oriente con furore
Not as good as the first in the series, but still entertaining, 22 June 2009

From the Orient with Fury (or one of the other half dozen names this movie goes by) is Ken Clark's second outing as Dick Malloy, Agent 077. While I didn't enjoy it as much as the first in the series, Mission Bloody Mary, it's still a fun movie and definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of Euro-Spy films. In this one, Malloy is searching for a kidnapped scientist who has developed a beta ray that will instantaneously dissolve all metal. Along the way he runs into a pack of baddies intent on stopping him, Russian spies, and enough beautiful women to make even James Bond envious. I'll be honest - the plot doesn't really matter much. There were times as I was watching From the Orient with Fury when I couldn't remember what Malloy's ultimate mission was. But I still was having fun, so who cares. Ken Clark has an easy going air about him that makes him great to watch. I'm really starting to enjoy his work. He's joined in the cast by one of my new Euro favorites, Margaret Lee, Evi Marandi, and the ever-present Franco Ressel. It seems sometimes that I run into Ressel in just about every Italian movie I watch. Terrific location shots from Paris to Madrid to Istanbul add to the overall feel of the film. If I had to point to one weakness that keeps me from rating From the Orient with Fury as high as its predecessor it would be the repetitive nature of some of the fight scenes. I think Malloy runs into and fights the same four or five henchmen at least a eight or nine times. It does tend to get a bit old. Otherwise, I've got few real complaints. I'll give this one a 6/10 upon my initial viewing.

6/10

Mission Bloody Mary (1965)

- Agente 077 missione Bloody Mary
Nice Euro-Spy Fun, 19 June 2009

I'm relatively new to the whole Euro-Spy movie scene and, as a result, I may have misjudged some movies in the past (i.e. I may have to go back and re-do some user comments). I've been looking at these movies as poor James Bond imitations that could never possibly live up to the real thing. But you know, I've come to realize there is a certain charm to be found in many of these movies. The Euro-Spy movies I've seen so far generally feature plenty of fight scenes, car chases, handsome leading men, beautiful women, often breathtaking locations, interesting villains, catchy music, and some real creative and original ideas. These movies were most often made on shoestring budgets with tight shooting schedules and fuzzy plots and very often featuring actors that no one would call Oscar caliber. But the most important thing about Euro-Spy movies that I've come to realize is what an absolute blast many of them are. This has got to be the most fun and entertaining overlooked genre of films out there.

On to the movie at hand – Mission Bloody Mary. I've seen some Euro-Spy movies that I enjoyed more, but this is a good one. Ken Clark plays CIA Agent Dick Malloy. He's a no nonsense kind of agent who uses his fists with the best of them. In Mission Bloody Mary, Malloy is hot on the trail of a stolen nuclear device. But he's not alone. It seems that every one from the Chinese to the Russians to a mysterious character known only as the Black Lily is also after the device. Complicating matters (or at least making things more interesting) is Malloy's would-be partner Elsa Freeman (Helga Line). Malloy spends a good part of the movie and a good deal of energy trying to determine just which side she's on – his or theirs.

Mission Bloody Mary may not be as over-the-top as other Euro-Spy movies, but it's still very entertaining. Clark makes an excellent lead. He's a rough and tumble kind of guy with a winning smile and a good screen presence. Like a lot of these Euro movies from the 60s, the biggest downside of Clark's character comes from the spotty dubbing. Any movie with Helga Line is better just because she's in it. Mission Bloody Mary may be one of my more favorite performances I've seen from her. The plot is solid and never gets in the way of the action. The movie moves at a good pace with very few dull spots. My biggest complaint is the Black Lily. The actual menace provided by this master criminal is disappointing to say the least. The budget was obviously tight on the film but Sergio Grieco does the best with what he's got. One of the "special effects" I really got a kick out of is the nuclear device itself. It reminds me of a 1950s era chrome juicer that kind of wiggles every time the case it's in is opened. It's silly looking alright, but for me it only adds to the movie's charm I mentioned previously.

Overall, I'd call Mission Bloody Mary a solid, fun movie. I've got very few reservations in my 7/10 rating.

7/10

Kindar the Invulnerable (1965)

- Kindar l'invulnerabile
An interesting twist on the standard formula, 21 May 2009

The son of a Sultan named Siro, Kindar is born just as his mother is hit and killed by lightning. The strange happenings at his birth make Kindar invulnerable to all human attacks, save one – the mysterious red rose. But soon after his birth, Kindar is kidnapped and taken to grow up as the the son of a desert warrior and bandit named Seymuth. Seymuth's one ambition in life is to destroy Kindar's real father and his city. And with an invulnerable son at his side, no one would dare stand in his way. But before Seymuth's grand day of glory, Kindar learns the truth of his birth. Which side will Kindar choose – Siro or Seymuth? And how will the discovery of the red rose affect the events to come?

Something of a rare peplum, Kindar the Invulnerable is also a bit different from the standard fare. Instead of ancient Athens or Rome or Sparta, Kindar the Invulnerable is set in the deserts of North Africa. I'm not sure where the movie was filmed, but it looks wonderfully authentic. The vast, empty deserts, the lush oasis, and the walled city of Uthera – it's a nice change of pace from the normal scenes of coliseums and chariot races. Another plus for me was the acting. While Mark Forest is basically "the body" the role of Kindar calls for, he's as good as any of the muscle-bound would-be actors that populated these peplums. In fact, I was actually a bit impressed with his acting prowess. The rest of the cast includes the always welcome genre favorite Rosalba Neri in a small role and Mimmo Palmara chewing more scenery than one actor has a right to in his role as Seymuth. I must admit that I was also enjoyed the performance of Dea Flowers in her one and only listed credit. I'm amazed she didn't do anything else. Finally, there are a couple of moments in Kindar the Invulnerable that really caught me off guard by how well they were shot. Two of my favorites that I'll mention are Kindar's nighttime trip into the walled city and the film's finale with Kindar back home holding his one true love. That last one may be hokey, but it's a wonderful shot nonetheless. You know, other than a slow patch in the film's second act, I've got no complaints. I'll give Kindar the Invulnerable a strong 6/10. If you're a fan of the genre, this is one worth seeking out for its uniqueness if nothing else.

6/10