Not boring, just dumb.
A team of mercenaries bands together to plot the assassination of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. One of them is Hud (Robert Vaughn), who's looking for some payback because he was present at the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Part of the plot will involve the hiring of Capt. Tony (Stuart Whitman), a combination boat captain / saloon owner who will transport key personnel. But the powers that be are wary of the Captain, and bring in a specialist (Caren Kaye) who will supposedly work her charms on him and command most of his attention. Also involved is American mobster Rossellini (Michael Gazzo), who is bankrolling the operation.
It turns out, not everything is what it seems in this routine B level nonsense, that actually lays out some opening narration that is pretty damn ridiculous. Sloppy storytelling and crude filmmaking (Chuck Workman is a co-writer and the director) result in a silly minor league flick, which may still draw some people in due to the talent assembled on screen. But don't be fooled: they've been better utilized in other things. Whitman and Vaughn in particular look very weary. Giving the proceedings a bit of a lift is the always hilarious Gazzo, and a very amusing Raymond St. Jacques as the guy who's supposed to be in charge of things. The cast of familiar faces also includes Sybil Danning (who's seen much too briefly), Woody Strode (engaging, as always, as Whitmans' first mate), and Albert Salmi (in another of his cranky lawman roles).
Filmed largely in Key West, Florida, this could at least have been somewhat appealing visually, but this aspect is diluted due to the cheapness on display. One especially absurd touch is that when animals are supposedly chowing down on characters, you never see the animal and the individual in the same shot.
It ends on a somewhat engaging final note, due to an insidiously catchy ditty called "Holly-Ho Havana" that accompanies the end credits.
Five out of 10.
It turns out, not everything is what it seems in this routine B level nonsense, that actually lays out some opening narration that is pretty damn ridiculous. Sloppy storytelling and crude filmmaking (Chuck Workman is a co-writer and the director) result in a silly minor league flick, which may still draw some people in due to the talent assembled on screen. But don't be fooled: they've been better utilized in other things. Whitman and Vaughn in particular look very weary. Giving the proceedings a bit of a lift is the always hilarious Gazzo, and a very amusing Raymond St. Jacques as the guy who's supposed to be in charge of things. The cast of familiar faces also includes Sybil Danning (who's seen much too briefly), Woody Strode (engaging, as always, as Whitmans' first mate), and Albert Salmi (in another of his cranky lawman roles).
Filmed largely in Key West, Florida, this could at least have been somewhat appealing visually, but this aspect is diluted due to the cheapness on display. One especially absurd touch is that when animals are supposedly chowing down on characters, you never see the animal and the individual in the same shot.
It ends on a somewhat engaging final note, due to an insidiously catchy ditty called "Holly-Ho Havana" that accompanies the end credits.
Five out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- Mar 19, 2018