Gerry O'Hara (director)
Network on Air (studio)
PG (certificate)
92 min (length)
28 September 2020 (released)
29 September 2020
Crime films were indeed very much all the rage at the time this caper from 1967 was made. The format was often quite similar although in this entertaining adventure we get a glamorous fashion editor who turns out to be an international jewel thief.
We also get a middle-aged male undercover agent (who is of course nigh on irresistible to the opposite sex) embarking on a dangerous mission and posted to an exotic locale where he is surrounded by 'beautiful young dolls' (don’t expect too much p/c here, darlings!), a nasty villainous adversary (or two) and a little twist in the tale. On a comparatively superficial level this is quite fun. Gene Barry is the male in question. Barry was at that time very popular in Britain as a result of the TV-series 'Burke's Law' which explains his appearance here – playing secret agent Simon Grant who is on a mission to 'get the goods' on Louise Henderson (American dancer/actress Cyd Charisse) who turns in a commendable performance as the ‘fashion editor’ in question. It's easy for Gene to slide effortlessly through his role as he did with Amos Burke.
This 'slick' caper kicks off with Grant brazenly walking into Louise’s fashionable London mansion and stealing a necklace and earrings from her safe. That same night he knowingly meets her at a swinging party (they could only swing like that in the 1960s!) at the house of fashion photographer Raymond Lowe (an unusually straight role for the usually licentiously comedic Leslie Phillips who co-produced the film). Within no time Grant strikes up an apparent camaraderie with Louise before brazenly showing her the very earrings he has just stolen from her safe. Of course, she can do nothing knowing full well the bling isn’t hers either… During the party Grant also befriends one of Louise’s models, Claudia (Italian Elsa Martinelli) who is in cahoots with Louise (while the other models seem to remain in blissful ignorance). Just a couple of days later they are all on board for a flight to Morocco apparently for an array of fashion shoots though obviously a major crime caper is the real purpose of the visit.
Indeed! Outwardly Louise, along with photographer Raymond and her bevy of heavily made-up models (all sporting the most outlandish 60’s fashions and hair-dos imaginable) are going for a mega magazine shoot in the desert amid local Arabs, camels and crumbling towers - some smoke-screen, eh? The real purpose behind this facade is the acquisition of a fabulously expensive medallion… and then exchange it for a fake. However, the wily Louise has her suspicions about our charming Simon Grant and his motives, thus she orders Claudia to get to ‘know him better’ and soon they are sharing the same bed - what did you expect? Do we have a real romance blossoming? Hardly! The contact for the precious Arab medallion is old Professor Bannen (Eric Barker). Unfortunately an unforeseen problem emerges: Bannen just had a heart attack and now that he's in a wheelchair he sees things differently and is reluctant to honour the ‘deal’ what with handing the artifact to Louise… when an angry and impatient Lowe interferes. Whaddya know Bannen is found dead face down in the hotel swimming pool the next morning. Enter Inspector Barrada (Denholm Elliott, delivering his lines in a rather unconvincing French accent). He also has his very own (and rather attractive) assistant in Michelle Craig (Alexandra Stewart) who is keeping a close eye on all concerned, Grant in particular. Perhaps Michelle has her own motivations? After a mega punch-up between Grant and Lowe in an ancient labyrinth the body count soon mounts up and from then on it’s action a-plenty. Is this enough to wet your appetite?
The music for the film’s party sequence was composed by Paul Ferris (best known for his score for the Vincent Price horror ‘Witchfinder General’). The Shadows’ instrumental cover version reached No. 24 in the UK charts in 1967. As a bonus we have a crazy music video by the Shadows performing ‘Maroc 7’ although the location looks more like Tilbury Marshes than Morocco!
Special Features of this newly restored Blu-ray release include: Theatrical trailer, Shadows music promo, Image gallery.