A Moderna Mata Hari

I'm amazed I've found this movie, and that others remember it! A great flick I saw when I was young. Even then it was over 20 years old and it was still intriguing. The dark nature of the film would not be allowed for children to view these days... a shame. The movie focuses on a boarding school with a group of teenage girls, each representing a different country. The girls encounter dangerous villains and uncover secrets while having to use their cleverness to stay alive (from what I remember). It's a fun, unique film that has brought together the genres of thriller, mystery, and "family," if one would ever think it possible.

I wish I could find it on DVD these days. It really brings me back.

The quick pitch: Candy, the daughter of a US diplomat, uses her position at an all-girls' school to spy on her friends' fathers and the goings on at their respective embassies. What at first seems like harmless fun goes horribly wrong when a Chinese assassin is sent in to put a stop to Candy's shenanigans.

I wouldn't call 13 Frightened Girls all that good, but I wouldn't call it all that bad either. The film kind of feels like Disney took a stab at making a Eurospy film. I could easily see someone like Hayley Mills in the title role. It's all harmless enough fun, but it does lack any real bite. Even when lead-girl Candy is in danger, you know it'll all turn out all right. Take the scene where the Chinese baddies are searching for Candy in the room full of suitcases. It's downright silly. However, I don't think the film is the disaster some reviews would have you believe. I think the movie gets a knock because of the marketing, the title, and the William Castle name. It's nowhere near as lurid or suspenseful as the trailer or poster art would have you believe.

A couple of other things: First, I got a kick out of seeing Alexandra Bastedo (who would later appear in The Champions) in the background as "England". Second, I'm really surprised to see that Kathy Dunn didn't have more of a career in acting. Whether you like the movie or not, I think Dunn did an outstanding job as Candy.

Well this is a weird one. Interesting but weird. A mix of a Gidget type of teenage comedy with a spy spoof. Not sure why it's so hated. Leonard Maltin gave it a BOMB rating, for crying out loud. That's completely unfair. It's a cute and harmless little bit of fluff with some funny moments, especially early on. I liked Kathy Dunn and Lynne Sue Moon. Maybe people hate it because it's from William Castle and has a misleading title that makes it sound like a horror movie? I don't know. Admittedly the fun and cuteness of it wears off after awhile. When it seems to take its spy plot seriously is when things get a little dull. But it picks back up towards the end. I didn't think it was bad at all. Ignore the overly harsh criticisms and judge it for yourself.

Typically humorous , intriguing , tongue-in-cheek William Castle opera with his usual ingredients . Set in Swiss boarding school catering to daughters of diplomats , after trading bits of info they picked up from daddy during the holidays . While attending a school for diplomats' daughters, the teen-aged daughter nicknamed "Kitten", "Candy" (the unknown but very likable Kathy Dunn) of the American ambassador (Hugh Marlowe) uses her access to USA and China embassies to engage in espionage. Candace has a special relationship with Wally Sanders (Murray Hamilton) , who Candy has known all her life and on who she now has a crush despite he being engaged to his colleague nicknamed Soldier (Joyce Taylor) , a code breaking specialist. Candy passes along the information to Wally only under the code name "Kitten". As meddled Candy decides to go off and do spy stuff . While visiting Mai-ling (Lynne Sue Moon) , niece of the Red Chinese ambassador she stumbles into a major political secret, involving a murder. 13 terrified teenagers on the run !. The big fright! The eerie sight!

One Castle's strangest movies , set in a Swiss boarding school and American , Chinese Ambassy , though actually shot in Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, and Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California . An amusing movie with thrills , tension , intrigue , chuckles , twists and turns . This is an Euro-spy and a teen movie more than a typical spook opera from Castle who often used a lot of gimmicks , this time , only one : spectators in the theater were given lottery cards for a chance to win a gift or a prize . Dealing with thirteen girls and particularly starred by Kathy Dunn as intrusive Candace Hull giving a very sympathetic acting as the meddling teen stirring up serious problem on her vacation as she messes with the diplomatic affairs of their elders and get into trouble when a Russian spy is discovered killed . Castle held a worlwide talent search to find his stars , this time Kathy Dunn , for whom this was first and no doubt last movie. Along other known actors as Murray Hamilton , Hugh Marlowe , with Khigh Dhiegh cleverly cast as a sinister Ambassador , as he played a similar and unforgettable role in The Manchurian candidate . Adding a group of charming adolescents , some of them to be continued a cinematic career as Judy Pace and Alexandra Bastedo .

This juvenile , cute motion picture was professionally directed by William Castle . He was an expert craftsman with some of the all-time great schlock names serving as the producer Sam Katzman and fondness for gimmicks as proved in his successful terror films such as : House of haunted hill , The Tingler , Mr Sardonicus , Strait-jacked , Homicidal , Macabre and 13 Ghosts . Castle emulated Alfred Hitchcock , this included the practice of appearing in the trailers, and even making cameo appearances in his films . Furthermore , he made several Westerns such as : 1955 Duel on the Mississippi , 1955 The Gun That Won the West ,1955 El Americano , 1954 Masterson of Kansas , 1954 The Law vs. Billy the Kid , 1954 Jesse James vs. The Daltons , 1954 Battle of Rogue River , 1953 Fort Ti , 1951 cave of outlaws. Rating : 6/10, acceptable and passable , being one of Castle's weirdest movies . A side-splitting vintage picture awaiting rediscovery.

Miss Pittford's Academy for Young Ladies is a Swiss boarding school for the daughters of competing diplomats from various countries. American Candace Hull earns the right to drive the bus for a school trip. She has a desperate crush on secret agent Wally Sanders (Murray Hamilton) who is involved with his work partner Soldier (Joyce Taylor). She is in the Chinese embassy when she accidentally comes upon a murdered man. She becomes secret agent Kitten, a secret even to her father and Wally.

How old is this girl? She's 16 and driving the bus? Then she's chasing around forty year old Murray Hamilton. This is a weird premise of Gidget fights the Cold War. Kathy Dunn is a fine Gidget. It has the feel of a bad Disney movie with murder and suggested sexuality. It's intriguingly despite being weirdly bad. I am never sure if this is intended to be a silly comedy or a serious thriller. It's both and not quite successful in either.