That Lady from Peking

Apathetic and totally uninteresting Aussie flick about Consular wheelings and dealings. It might even be described as a murder mystery: A mystery why they made it, and murder to watch!

Carl Betz (a 'competent' actor rather than a dynamic screen personality) plays Max Foster, an American writer caught up in a web of intrigue and disinterest when a Russian diplomat's diary goes missing following his death by anything but natural causes. There's the plot, the viewer has actually to supply his own intrigue.

Notable only for being Jack Thompson's first screen appearance. Nancy Kwan is wasted and they even squeezed 60's pop pretty-boy Bobby Rydell into the proceedings in an attempt to dredge up interest. The ploy failed and the film died at the box office. Aussie viewers may enjoy trying to find John Laws cameo here. For the US market the title was changed to THE GIRL FROM PEKING. Audiences there were equally underwhelmed!

An Australian spy flick with an emphasis on talk and character over big budget action or suspense. It's a low budget and rather routine affair that looks like it was filmed in one night, and the male characters are particularly interchangeable here; the only interesting cast member is Nancy Kwan, who has something really illuminating about her. As for the rest, it's below par and quite dull, aside from one great jumping-through-a-window stunt.