The Retrievers

My review was written in June 1984 after a screening at Rialto theater on Manhattan's 42nd St.

Made in 1981 under the title "The Retrievers" but just recently released domestically, "Hot and Deadly" is a substandard action cheapie loaded with martial arts fighting scenes. Director Elliot Hong (credited with one t on-screen, two t's on the one-sheet poster) did a poor job here, but went on to make the pleasant Johnny Yune vehicle "They Call Me Bruce" (aka " A Fistful of Chopsticks").

After an annoyingly fake and cryptic opening reel (the impact of which is only made known much later in the film, pic develops around a nondescript hero Tom (Max Thayer), recruited by a buddy to find fortune by joining the Company (i.e., the Central Intelligence Agency). Tom is quickly disillusioned when on a mission to pick up Danny (Lenard Miller), who's written an unpublished expose of the CIA based on his experiences as an operative, an innocent bystander is ruthlessly murdered by his partner Phillip (Bud Cramer).

Tom protects Danny's sister Janice (Shawn Hoskins) against Phillip, suberts their mission, and goes on the lam with Janice in tow. While attempting to get the manuscript published, duo also finds time to fall in love (with a truly silly insertion of the 1960s standard lyrical interlude montage plus ballad-over, right in the middle of a reel of chases) and to try and spring Danny from his captors.

Hong fails to find a tone for this nonsense, mixing some tongue-in-cheek action gags with the usual ruthless ultraviolence. Acting is flat and color quality is relentlessly ugly.

This boring action film directed by guy who made KILL THE GOLDEN GOOSE and the comedy THEY CALL ME BRUCE? stars Max Thayer (last seen in ILSA: HARLEM KEEPER) as a man who is recruited by a organization who does the dirty work for powerful people. When on a routine mission to stop an ex-merc from writing a book on something that happen in the past, Thayer realized what the organization doing is wrong and teams up with the ex-merc's sister to help her brother's return and print the book her wrote about the organization. The fight sequence looks badly staged (even though it was supervised by Master Bon Soon Han). Music is stock music used in many other films like Andy Sardris's SEVEN to DRAGON VS. NEEDLES OF DEATH ad music. The film even ends in a sloppy end credit song, which wasn't even credited. Not recommended, unless you just want to see an action film.

This is definitely one of the few movies still in my mind. I watched this when I was still in second year high (around 1984 here). Nevermind if this movie is not a classic, but this is surely a hard action and one of the best movies released that year in our city. Action flicks were then making money here.

Just bought myself a copy of "The Retrievers". First of all I must say that the trailer for this schlock is by far more entertaining - but that seems to be the case with many B-grade actioners. The plot isn't half that bad and maybe in hands of some real filmmaker, it could have actually worked. Now the only reason to watch this reasonably forgotten gem is it's undeniable cheese -value. Action scenes are slow but frequent so you don't have to press the fast forward in your remote all of the time.

There is one guy, whose name I didn't catch, who posses some martial arts skills. His kicks are fast and quite flashy - especially when he's fighting the hero in the end. This is mostly because Max Thayer doesn't manage to be even a bit believable in his action scenes. His kicks are knee -high and I've seen more impressive punches thrown by 5 -year old boys.

Acting is total garbage and I was expecting gratuitous nudity. There is none. Well, there was one female character who's supposed to be some kind of literary agent - I suppose. She looks like a contemporary adult film star and is having a bubble bath for no obvious reason in the middle of the film.

This balances on the level of "being just plain bad" and "being just SO plain bad that it's actually good". I'd be hard pressed to go through it again, but it's a good addition to your 80's STV - action movie collection.

PLUS Katey Sagal (aka. Peggy Bundy) sings the song over closing credits. Well, you have to start somewhere... I also noticed director Rowdy ("Road House", "Striking Distance")Herrington's name in the credits. I believe it was in the grip -department or something.

Avoid if you like to actually enjoy your movies. Get it if you have a soft spot for geriatric Kung-Fu and painfully bad acting.