Muñecas que matan

Saw this one when it was originally released in '67 and immediately fell in love with the curvy assassins. Well typecasted; actors are very believable. One of the few super spy movies that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the James Bond movies.

Director Ralph Thomas, whose credits include DOCTOR comedies, NO LOVE FOR JOHNNIE, HOT ENOUGH FOR JUNE, produced a masterpiece as rarely as a dud. His films tend to be quite enjoyable and DEADLIER THAN THE MALE certainly fits that description.

To that end, it is greatly enhanced by the presence of such sensational beauties as Elke Sommer, Sylva Koscina, Suzanna Leigh and Virginia North, the first three all assassins of the highest refinement and tariff. Sommer, in particular, is absolutely to die for. Lovely legs, eyes, everything.

Richard Johnson delivers a highly polished private detective, Hugh Drummond, who is every bit as stealthy and classy as James Bond, who had been firing his way around the globe since 1962 in the figure of Sean Connery. Drummond is accompanied by his young and innocent nephew, Bob Drummond (Steve Carlson), who hampers more than helps.

However, in terms of acting the cherry on the cake comes courtesy of Nigel Green, who hides his hand until emerging as the cold, classly nasty villain who pulls the strings of the three beauties, much like the inverted precursor of Charlie and his angels in the 1980s.

Great photography, beautiful locales, and a script with sharp dialogue, repartee, and light humor.

I loved it! 8/10.

The Bulldog Drummond character first appeared in Herman Cyril McNeile's 1920 novel entitled "Bulldog Drummond" and would be a film fixture throughout the 1930s. In 1967, at the absolute height of that decade's spy craze, the character (an admitted influence on Ian Fleming) was dusted off, refurbished and transformed into a very credible competitor in the James Bond arena. The resultant film, "Deadlier Than the Male," turns out to be one of the finest Bond wanna-bes I have ever seen, easily putting contemporaries such as Derek Flint and Matt Helm to shame. Here, insurance investigator, playboy and all-around tough guy Drummond tracks down the killers of a string of recalcitrant businessmen and tangles with a pair of deadly female assassins. As in the Bond films, there are ample attractive women on hand, some exotic locales (such as the Spanish Mediterranean coast), a suave and talkative villain, an Asian henchman, and well-integrated quips (although the film is devoid of the inane humor that would torpedo some of the Roger Moore Bonds); the film is even a Pinewood production, like the early 007s. Unlike a Bond film, "Deadlier Than the Male" does not feature any spectacular stunts or eye-popping FX. It is a more realistic spy outing, and rather than being merely a "poor man's Bond," is indeed more entertaining than some of the lesser 007 films, such as "The Man With the Golden Gun." Richard Johnson is quite fine in the lead role (he even looks a bit like Sean Connery at times!), and Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina are perfect as the lethal hitwomen, the sexy Irma and adorable Penelope (perhaps never more so than when shown in microbikinis and toting harpoon guns!). Though the film's story line is a bit too dependent on coincidence, this picture--be it a Bond pastiche, send-up, homage or rip-off--is as entertaining as can be. Too bad the sequel, 1969's "Some Girls Do," is almost impossible to see....

This splendidly entertaining spoof of spy thrillers, brings back detective Bulldog Drummond (debonairly portrayed by Richard Johnson) to do battle with a megalomaniac villain (elegantly laconic Nigel Green), who uses sultry female assassins (Eurobabes Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina) to do his dirty work. Stylish doses of brutality, sly humor and witty set pieces make this obscure thriller a real winner...a widescreen DVD is due out in May of 2003.

1966 re-imagining of Bulldog Drummond in the James Bond mold. Drummond was created in a series of stories by Sapper. He was a British soldier of fortune between the world wars who fell into one crime related tale after another. They were made into a series of films in the 30's with various people playing Drummond including Ronald Coleman and Ray Miland. Other people like Reginald Denny and John Barrymore played in support. It was for the most part a very fun series.

In Deadlier than the Male Drummond (here played by Richard Johnson) is a trouble shooting attorney investigating a series of "accidents" which he suspects are murder. The trail leads to a group of women who seem to be able to fix any problem for a price, actually a million pounds.

The film is a very good little crime action film, certainly its better than many spy films that appeared in the wake of the Bond films. There are many beautiful women, numerous witty remarks and a good number of action set pieces that are atypical in their implied violence (the torture of Drummond's nephew for example). I liked that there is a realism that the Bond films rarely had. there are no gadgets as such, though there is a life size steel chess set that figures into the plot towards the end that is amazing-especially since there was no CGI used (hey this was 1966). I liked this film a great deal. Keep an eye out for this gem on DVD or on cable, its worth taking the time to see it.

7 out of 10