Hit Lady

Apparently Yvette is as smart as she is beautiful. She wrote this "Movie of the Week" about a female contract killer. Actually quite entertaining, has cameos by a lot of talented people including Keenan Wynn, Joseph Campenella. Yvette kills 'em with class but when she wants to quit the business the heat's on. Yvette should have been given her own action TV series. Unfortunately most of the women kicking butt in the 70's were black (Pam Grier, Tamara Dobson, Teresa Graves) the only other movie I can remember where a white woman does this is possibly Connie Stevens in "Scorchy". I guess I just like to see women beating up men PERIOD! Catch this if you can, I think it was on video in the 80's it should be on DVD as many of these 70's TV movies were lots of fun.

Yvette Mimieux is a very unlikely lady to play the lead in "Hit Lady". After all, she's rather petite, cute and looks very innocent and anything but dangerous. However, she's a cold-blooded contract killer...and a very good one at that! Plus, Mimieux wrote the script with herself in mind!!

The story begins with Angela (Mimieux) going to a barbecue and singling out an old man (Keenan Wynn) and talking with him at length. He invites her to go on a horseback ride...and she kills him when there are no witnesses about them. Next, she receives a call from her contact...he has one more contract. But she initially refuses, she's just retired. But the amount she is to be paid is astronomical...and this would really help her with her new life with her struggling boyfriend (Dack Rambo). So she has a condition...she wants to know more about the guy before he accepts. The mark is a union leader, Jeffrey Blaine (Joseph Campanella) and they really want him dead very badly! So yo see Angela as she goes to work and arranges to 'accidentally' meet Jeffrey at a concert. And, over time, she really comes to like this guy...so what's she to do?!

The film is enjoyable and worth seeing. Mimieux created a nice script. My only reservation was the ending...I did see that coming and many others will as well.

Yvette Mimieux looks gorgeous and gives a fine, understated performance as a contract killer who methodically seduces her targets, waits until they have let their guard down, and then strikes - lethally. But problems arise when she decides that she wants to quit the business. What I particularly liked about Yvette's performance here is that she presents the character and lets the viewer decide how he or she should feel about her. She doesn't force-feed you the answers, and neither does the movie. It proceeds economically from scene to scene, telling a seemingly simple story, but the unexpected twist at the end of it has real impact. Be warned: it's not an action movie (though there is one car chase), it's more of a character drama. (**1/2)

"Angela de Vries" (Yvette Mimieux) is a beautiful assassin who has just fulfilled a 3-hit contract and wants to retire. However, the organization she works for insists on one more assignment and since she doesn't appear to have many options she reluctantly agrees. Her new target is a union leader by the name of "Jeffrey Baine" and he just happens to be well-guarded. So this project presents itself as both risky and dangerous. Not only that, but she is also instructed that the hit must look like an accident which further increases the difficulty. Anyway, although this is a "made-for-television" movie it boasts a good storyline and a decent supporting cast. But the most important ingredient is Yvette Mimieux who looks absolutely gorgeous and performs rather nicely as well. So, if a person is interested in a fairly good crime-drama movie then this is one film worth consideration. All things considered then, I rate it as slightly above average.

The Quick Pitch: A female killer-for-hire wants out of the business after one last hit. But will those in power let her walk away?

It looks like I disagree with all of the other user comments on IMDb. The idea of a female hit-man was most likely a novel one in 1974, but ultimately, HIt Lady is just too predictable for me to really enjoy. The twist ending was telegraphed far in advance. I kept hoping for one last plot turn, but alas, it never came. I'll give Yvette Mimieux credit - she gives it her all. But she let herself down as an actor with the script she wrote. Tracy Keenan Wynn's direction adds nothing and it's easy to see why this is his only directing credit. Finally, the film's repetitive score is more annoying than anything else. Other than Mimieux, the lone highlight for me was Joseph Campanella in a supporting role. As for the rest of the acting, the less said the better.

4/10