Il segreto del garofano cinese

Fourth entry in the Weinert-Wilton horror thrillers with Brad Harris and Olga Schoberova

This German-French-Italian crime film (1964) was shot by producer Wolf C. Hartwig's Rapid-Film in the Barrandov Studios in Prague by Rudolf Zehetgruber (born 1926). The Constantin distributor brought it to West German cinemas from October 9th, 1964. The black-and-white film is part of the series based on motifs by the crime writer Louis Weinert-Wilton (1875-1945), which was intended to compete with the even more successful Edgar Wallace horror thrillers.

What's it about? Professor Bexter (Corrado Anicelli) and his smart assistant Dr. Cecil Wilken (Dietmar Schönherr) have developed a formula for generating energy and hidden it on microfilm. Of course, all of the city's criminals are also after this sensation: the wealthy Reginald Sheridan (Paul Dahlke) and the mysterious Mary Lou (Dominique Boschero) with her accomplice Speranzo (Klaus Kinski). With so much criminal energy, the professor is afraid for his beautiful niece Susan (Olga Schoberova), whom he has the well-trained private detective Donald Ramsey (Brad Harris) guarding. When the professor is finally murdered and Susan is kidnapped, Lieutenant Legget (Horst Frank) and Inspector Traves (Pierre Richard) arrive on the scene. The turbulent hunt for the promising microfilm can begin...

Director Rudolf Zehetgruber, who was supposed to make two more films from the KOMMISSAR X series and the Dudu films, enriches the crime thriller elements with all sorts of spy film inserts. He has a true dream cast at his disposal. It's not every day that you see Horst Frank (unfortunately dubbed, but with a great variant of defusing the bomb) and Klaus Kinski together in a film. Peplum star Brad Harris (1933-2017) and Czech sex bomb Olga Schoberova (born 1943) met and fell in love while filming in Prague. Many more films together ("Die schwarzen Adler von Santa Fe / The Black Eagles of Santa Fe" and "Le calde notti di Poppea / Poppäa - The Empress of the Gladiators"), an unfortunately failed marriage and a daughter named Sabrina were to follow. In their first scene together on screen, you can see how the extremely strong Brad Harris simply puts the unreasonable, rebellious Olga Schoberova, whom he caught provocatively skinny dipping, over his knee. The amorous game between the two lovebirds playing practical jokes can begin. Dietmar Schönherr (1926-2014), who was also seen alongside Brad Harris in "Weiße Fracht für Hong Kong / White Freight for Hong Kong", convinces in a rather obscure role.

All in all, a very entertaining crime thriller that doesn't need to shy away from comparison with the generally better-known Edgar Wallace crime novels.

Sure this entertaining little flick never wrote movie history and won't ever do. On a camp and exploitation level however it scores very fine. Forget about the story, it's the bearded 'dangerous secret formula' stuff, spiced with plenty of 'mysterious' cases of murder and a row of usual suspects and red herrings. Like all flicks of the infamous German "Edgar Wallace" circle (this one being an entry based upon a pulp novel by Louis Weinert-Wilton) it provides cheap thrills in a usually foggy London Town, featuring clichés such as the smart knows-it-all Scotland Yard inspector (sure with bowler hat, pipe & umbrella), the even smarter and more dynamic private eye or secret agent, the mysterious night club by the Thames or in a dark Piccadilly sidestreet. Right here's where you find the center of all evil proceedings, the "Chinese Carnation" inn, run by a wicked but sexy eurasian lady. She is introduced with a cheesecake shot of her high-heeled legs, lying on her divan, seductively scored with an itchy hammond organ sound. That hammond sound will accompany us and provide relentless cheesiness throughout the whole movie. But don't get it wrong: this is tacky fun and highly entertaining, mainly due to the unique pairing of the three great icons of Euro exploitation cinema of the 1960s: Brad Harris, Klaus Kinski and Horst Frank. Recommended - if only for fans.

The F.B.I send agent 00X2 (Brad Harris) to secure the secret formula. During filming Brad met his real-life wife Olly Schoberova (Olinka Berova). Brad Harris did all of his own stunts during the exciting car chase at the end. A very early Euro-spy movie that tries to mix international intrigue with a lot of punch-ups and car chases. Most of the action takes place in the bar called The Chinese Carnation. Definitely worth seeing by action fans and Brad Harris followers alike. Larry Anderson, Canada