Argoman - Der phantastische Supermann

While nowadays there's been a big boom in super hero movies, it's a little known fact that it's not the first. During the 60s there were a ton of them, most trying to cash in on the Batman show although they did have their own sense of style. Argoman is different in the fact that it lacks the style, because of this it just becomes like the campiness of the 60s Batman. Which IS a good thing by the way, but it doesn't seem as original as stuff like Danger Diabolik. Also, most of the movie is pretty slow, with Argoman trying to find out where Jennabell is by standing around and talking to people! However, the last act in the base makes up for it. Overall, while it's not as stylish as some other 60s super hero movies and is pretty slow at times, it has most of the other traits of a good movie down. Food acting, good effects, a catchy theme song, and a robot! Check it out!

I was vaguely aware of this superhero, flick but which I almost missed out on when it was shown earlier this week on late-night Italian TV given the misleading original title – which translates to HOW TO STEAL THE CROWN OF ENGLAND (a plot device which, while occurring twice during the course of the movie, is only a means to an end and not the villainess’ ultimate goal)! Anyway, this was one of a boom of Italian superhero/master criminal films (most of them emanating from the latter half of the 1960s) – apart from which, I was already familiar with the enjoyable KRIMINAL (1966; whose sequel, THE MARK OF KRIMINAL [1968], I watched on the strength of this), the obviously superior DANGER: DIABOLIK (1968), the surprisingly agreeable spoof ARRIVA DORELLIK (1967) and, much later, the truly lamentable THE PUMA MAN (1980).

Argoman’s alter-ego is Sir Reginald Hoover (Roger Browne) – a laid-back, womanizing criminologist living in a luxurious gadget-filled mansion and waited upon by his faithful Hindu servant (played by Spaniard Eduardo Fajardo); to put it another way, if Batman is the James Bond of superheroes, then Argoman would be their Matt Helm! Having said that, the outrageous costume notwithstanding (which features a cape and a slit in his mask similar to the armor worn by Gort, the robot from THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL [1951]!), his superhero characteristics make him actually closer to Superman than Batman: as a matter of fact, he has sonar, telekinetic and magnetic powers!; however, these are depleted for six hours straight after every sexual encounter – which exasperates time-keeper Fajardo no end! The villainess, then, is a man-eating redhead (Dominique Boschero) typically obsessed with world domination – which she plans to accomplish via a precious diamond that, through the sun’s energy, is able to dissolve steel (consequently, having relocated from London to Paris, the French currency is soon in peril of being devalued!).

Unfortunately for Argoman, he always seems to happen on the scene at the wrong time – so that the Police (especially an incompetent Scotland Yard Inspector) mistakes him for the perpetrator of Boschero’s nefarious deeds! While generally entertaining, the plot gets a bit confusing in the second half – especially when dealing with a subplot in which Boschero hypnotizes a clutch of high-ranking officials to aid her cause, and also the kidnapping of Hoover/Argoman on a crowded bus. The film (re-edited in 1979 and re-issued simply as ARGOMAN) is nevertheless boosted by Piero Umiliani’s breezy score and the attractive locations. A regrettable occurrence in connection with the version I watched is that, for about a 10-minute stretch towards the end, the beat-up print turned completely to black-and-white!

This movie seemed to be taking itself seriously while winking at the same time.

A big dig on the superhero shows and films that were all the rage at the time. It had every cliché. The rich man's hideaway. The gadgets. The ladies. The police and governments friends and/or connections. It still seems fun.

The costume was a bit weird. The red ski mask didn't exactly look like it belonged on a hero.

And while the name 'Argoman' sounds cool, it doesn't make a lot of sense really.

I won't even attempt to explain the plot. See it for yourself. It's out there on video, (I know, I have it. An American copy.) but only the patient will find it.

Fun, tongue-in-cheek super hero/spy spoof/caper film. Roger Browne plays Argoman, whose superpowers include strength, psychic ability, and telekinesis. Since he's a suave, debonair playboy, he also likes to romance ladies. There's one catch: if he sleeps with a woman, he loses his powers for six hours. He and the villainous Queen of the World share a bed and a fabulous costume sense. Naturally, Argoman has a loungey score. Great fun. The version of this that I saw was titled The Incredible Paris Incident and was released by Sinister Cinema. The colors were a bit washed out, and the film needs to be letterboxed, but the print was quite watchable.

This film is one of those strange super hero films from Europe, I am not sure if it is based on anything, but as is often is the case with these superheroes the powers of Argoman are a bit all over the place. There is also Super Argo, who is a superhero wrestler who does a lot more in his film than this dude, but Argoman does have a way nicer home base. Argoman's powers stop for six hours after he has sex, but that did not play as big a part of this film as I was expecting. Not sure if they were going to do another film where it did play a prominent role, but here it is used only once and does not hinder our 'hero' all that much.

The story has a crown stolen, a warning from the queen of the world and the introduction of Argoman at his awesome house where he gets a sexy redhead driving a hovercraft by his oceanside manor. He boings her and loses his powers, but he is not even on the case. Soon he is as he got busy with the self proclaimed queen of the world! She wants a diamond that does stuff, not sure what as it is as clear as Argoman's powers.

The acting is typical for this type of film as it is a bit over the type and a bit goofy in places. The women look great, a scene with his friend in lingerie is awesome. Women definitely looked better back in the day than they do now and dressed better too. These days they dress in sweats and weigh more than Andre the giant riding carts around Walmart. Thank god for the internet, anime and Asian girls...

So I thought the movie was a fun watch despite its rather strange premise. Not much action mond you, but it makes up for it with pretty women, cool locations and just the fact it is not taking itself too seriously. I would rather watch this film than most of the Marvel films released since Endgame.