L'inconnu de Shandigor

The Unknown Man of Shandigor is an odd variation on the spy film. It is a style piece that some will probably (over) praise and others will (unfairly) vilify.

Dr. Von Krantz (Daniel Emilfork, the devil from the Devil's Nightmare) plays a mad scientist who has come up with some new weapon that three different governments are trying to get their hands on. Von Krantz lives in his country villa with his beautiful daughter (Marie-France Boyer), albino assistant, and an unseen creature in his swimming pool. Von Krantz has his entire estate wired with cameras and microphones, with its inhabitants living like prisoners. Von Krantz's daughter escapes from the estate only to be kidnapped by the spies being led by Serge Gainsbourg. The spies take the woman to Shandigor, where she once spent a wonderful vacation. Meanwhile, the other two groups of spies are waging war with each other.

A monster in a swimming pool, acid and snow as weapons, a kamikaze suit that blows up if hit with a bullet, and a lack of a main character (everyone is supporting), The Unknown Man of Shandigor is far more whimsical than any James Bond film. Yet, it is neither a parody nor a satire of spy films. It is just a bizarre take on one. I would compare this film to Alphaville in the way the film is a delirious style piece. It even shares one actor from the Godard film, the always welcomed Howard Vernon. I might also mention Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter, director Seijun Suzuki's two takes on the yakuza film from the same time period as The Unknown Man of Shandigor.

How much one cares for The Unknown Man of Shandigor depends on one's tolerance/appreciation of its eccentricities. Objectively, the black and white cinematography looks gorgeous. The Alphonse Roy score and the one Serge Gainsbourg song ("Bye Bye Mr. Spy") are pleasing. However, the plot is a loose one. If a viewer, can let go of expectations and just go with the film, then he or she might have a good time. Viewers looking for more traditional attributes, like heroes, villains, and a concrete plot, should skip this film.

This is one of the most unique films I've seen in years and it's a shame I hadn't discovered it sooner due to it being in obscurity for decades. The fact that this film was lost and not praised since its release in 67 is a tragedy to say the least, but alas, there is now a Blu-ray with 4k restoration. The film has beautiful black and white cinematography, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a script that balances several characters and factions tremendously. There are great performances throughout with the standout being Daniel Emilfork. It's classy, cartoony and thoroughly entertaining. Amazing.

This is not for all tastes .Most of the viewers might mistake it for a spy thriller which it is in a way.The movie begins with the well known picture of the big mushroom and it deals with the peril of the atomic war .The cast and credits are as good as those of a James Bond movie but in a diametrically opposite style.The narrative style is even more bizarre and may put off a lot of viewers .Daniel Emilfork ,who plays the (mad?) scientist ,is the most sinister-looking actor of the whole French cinema ;he could have been our Bela Lugosi,our Boris Karloff ,had he been given decent parts.Add Jacques Dufilho and Serge Gainsbourg who are not exactly what you call hunks.This is a curio.It may be your up of tea.I must admit it's not mine.