Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117

This was director Andre Hunebelle's third crack at OSS 117, the hero of Jean Bruce's novels, and we consider it probably his best effort. OSS 117 Mission For a Killer has a lot going for it. Among them is Frederick Stafford. He's just right as the smart and tough Hubert Bonnisseur de la Bath. He has an easy air of capability about him and we were surprised to learn that this was his first film credit. Stafford, who died in a plane crash in 1979, played the same role in OSS 117 From Tokyo With Love and he made one other spy flick in the sixties; Agent 505 - Death Trap Beirut.

After four political assassinations occur inside a month, all perpetrated by drug-induced innocents, Stafford is sent to Rio to track down the source of the narcotic. Since it's Rio, we are treated to the prerequisite Carnival footage but it doesn't take up too much time. The Latin-inflected score by Michel Magne is just fine and in fact, blends well with the Rio and Bahia area locations. The film has plenty of action, good fights and intentional humor. Overall this is a superior example of the genre and well worth seeking out.

While vacationing at a ski resort OSS Agent 117 "Hubert Bonnisseur de la Bath" (Frederick Stafford) is contacted and told about a series of assassinations in South America that need to be investigated. As a result, he assumes a new identity as a news reporter by the name of "Hubert Delacroix" and takes the next available flight to Brazil. Upon landing he is met at the airport in Rio de Janeiro by a pretty woman named "Consuela Moroni" (Perrette Pradier) who claims to be the secretary of the person he was told to meet. However, because of the manner in which Consuela managed to get his attention, he becomes somewhat wary and upon arriving at their destination takes the car keys out of the ignition just in case. Minutes later he is attacked by three thugs and after disposing of them finds that Consuela is no longer in the car where he left her. To further add to his suspicions, he later meets another woman who also claims to be "Consuela Moroni" (this one played by Annie Andersson) who gives him a set of keys and some valuable information. What he still doesn't know, however, is who he can trust in his search for those responsible for the assassinations. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film started off as a really good EuroSpy movie but it seemed to lose a bit of its momentum toward the end. Admittedly, this picture didn't have the financial resources that the "James Bond" films did during this time and it shows to a certain degree. Even so, it did an interesting plot, an exotic location and a couple of attractive actresses in Mylene Demongeot (as "Anna-Marie Sulza") to brighten the scenery so it definitely has some things in its favor. That being said, while not a great spy film by any means, it managed to pass the time well enough and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

The third entry in the French OSS 117 movie series in the 1960s should have worked a lot better than it actually does. It had what looks like a decent budget, and much of the movie was shot on location in Brazil. But this attempt to emulate the world wide popular British James Bond movies falls flat for the most part. The biggest reason the movie fails is that it is really boring. The movie's story moves at a snail's pace, and you never get the feeling that lives are at stake. There is also very little action, and while there are a couple of okay hand to hand combat sequences, otherwise the action is flatly staged and directed. Even the climatic sequence feels slow and unexciting. Another reason why the movie fails to engage the viewer is the casting of Frederick Stafford as the secret agent. While some of the blame has to do with how the director told him to act, he has to share some of the blame for coming across as annoyingly smug. This is the weakest OSS 117 movie so far in the series, but I have two more entries to watch, and I won't be surprised if the quality continues to weaken as it goes along further.

What atmosphere! What lovely girl (Mylène D)! 4,7 as an average? I must protest!! This is pure magic, the stuff that dreams are made of. Who cares about the story! This is for boys! Pure adventure, a fairy-tale! Will it ever occur on DVD? In France? This is just one film of still many, which has not reached the DVD-format yet although there are thousands of films which are so much badder than this one, which we had to endure on DVD. Probably this is due to the fact, that the people who know about these good films are becoming an extinct race.

Andre Hunebelle was the odd-job man of the French cinema.He made lousy comedies ("taxi roulotte et corrida"which featured Louis de Funes before he became the biggest comic actor of his time) .But I remember him best as a swashbuckler specialist :between 1959 in 1962,he directed Jean Marais -who had seen better days with Jean Cocteau's works- in four of those flicks .

By 1963,winds had shifted ,with the coming of James Bond."Furia à Bahia" was Hunebelle's third "OSS 117" effort.Unlike James Bond which was always played by Sean Connery till 1969,OSS 117 was the three- faced spy.First there was Kervin "Sinbad" Matthews and then John "imitation of life" Gavin,in the Italian episode.Hunebelle hired Frederick Stafford whose part may or may not help him become the lead in Hitchcok's "Topaz".

Hunebelle's movie can boast a nice cinematography.The magnificent Brazilian landscapes make up for the triteness of the story:another man who wants to rule the world.Mylene Demongeot (check her name :they tried to make her another BB)and Catherine Rouvel are gorgeous ladies.Raymond Pellegrin is an excellent villain ( although this earnest thespian deserves much better!) However ,I like Hunebelle's swashbucklers best ,for they were part of me and my best friend 's childhood.