User reviews

German Edgar Wallace flicks from the early 60s - a cheesy kind of cinema, but, as far as I am considered, also a very lovable one. Crime flicks and murder mysteries based on the writings of the British novelist Edgar Wallace were immensely popular in Germany of the 1960s, some of them were also very cool, others immensely corny, and almost all of them incredibly entertaining in one way or another. "Das Rätsel Der Roten Orchidee" (aka. "The Secret Of The Red Orchid") of 1962 would probably be one of the inferior Edgar Wallace films, if it wasn't for two ingenious actors. This cheesy crime mystery does not only star the incredibly sinister Klaus Kinski (as many other Wallace films), but also one of cinema's greatest Horror icons, the almighty Christopher Lee. Lee, who plays an American FBI agent, was dubbed in the English language version, but he can be heard speaking German in the original German version, and his German is amazingly good.

Several rich people are murdered in London, and the murders are somehow connected with a gang of blackmailers. Since the crimes seem like the work of Chicago mobsters, American FBI Captain Allermann (Christopher Lee) comes to London to help the investigating Scotland Yard Inspector Weston (Adrian Hoven).

The plot itself is quite lame, and full of illogical twists, but the film nevertheless promises pure entertainment. Christopher Lee is a great enrichment as always, but the best aspect of the movie is Klaus Kinski who shines in a very sinister role. Sexy Marisa Mell is once again stunningly beautiful in the female lead, and the comedic part goes to Eddi Aren't who plays role of the butler (once again). This is not one of the highlights in the popular series of Edgar Wallace-based films that were made in Germany between 1959 and the early 70s, but it is amusing light-hearted entertainment, and recommendable for Christopher Lee, Klaus Kinski and beautiful Marissa Mell.

This is yet another "Krimi" pairing Christopher Lee and Klaus Kinski; the hero this time around is, like them, a Jess Franco regular i.e. Adrian Hoven, and the leading lady future "Euro-Cult" starlet Marisa Mell. The film, however, is not only inferior to THE DEVIL'S DAFFODIL (1961) – which preceded this viewing – but only marginally a genre entry…as, rather, than a sadistic masked killer (the German "Krimis" were obvious precursors to the Italian "Gialli") we get rival gangs of Chicago hoodlums who improbably relocate to London to first extort and then dispatch various wealthy elders when they invariably turn to Scotland Yard for protection! Why this is done is never quite clear, especially since they never get to collect; incidentally, we start off with one mobster eliminating his opponents – but the only survivor, Kinski, soon sets up his own unit of gun-happy thugs whilst retaining an ostensibly respectable front as a tobacconist. One of the victims bequeaths his fortune to his secretary (Mell) rather than his sole ne'er-do-well relative (who has a propensity for orchids, the only link to the title – that is to say, extremely cursory – provided by the narrative!); still, he proves to be not what he seems – with his final trapping of the heroine inside a bank vault one of the very few scenes pertaining to the form's recognizable style (another highlight has a car going off the rails after a large mirror set up along the road gave the illusion to the bewildered driver of an imminent head-on collision).

Lee does not have much of substance to do as an F.B.I.(!) agent, but he at least gets to display his quick two-gun draw in a shoot-out with one of the baddies. Somewhat more prevalent, regrettably, is a comic-relief butler who happens to have served each of the murdered parties immediately prior to their untimely demise…and, ultimately, even offers his would-be expert services to both one of the perpetrators – who promptly winds up dead himself – and the Police!

Another film in the series based on novels by Edgar & Bryan Wallace.It seems that 2 rival Chicago gangs have come to London.They are extorting money from wealthy men.Pay up or die.

Christopher Lee plays a FBI agent sent to London to investigate the gangs.A supposedly dead gang leader is rumored to be alive and running his business.

I knew this movie was in trouble within the first 4 minutes. The great voice of Christopher Lee was horribly dubbed.The dubbing will set your teeth on edge.

The movie is dull and you can have the answers figured out within the first 30 minutes.

This gets a 2 only because Lee is in it.This orchid is wilted.

Yet another film in the long running cycle of Edgar/Bryan Wallace films that flowed out of Germany in the 1960's and early 1970's. This time the story concerns a blackmailer who threatens very rich men with death if they don't pay up. The bodies of those that don't pay are dumped in front of Scotland Yard. As with many of these films its a bit confusing at first with several plot threads wandering through the story (Chicago gangsters, FBI agent, the blackmail scheme) before coming together at the end. Unfortunately this really isn't a story where its worth seeing how it all comes together. The plot is more than a bit unfocused, even by this series standards,There are too many characters and too much comedy so that the film fails to be compelling. My unhappiness with the film could be the result of the English dub which has even Christopher Lee and Klaus Kinski dubbed by other actors who's vocal performances don't even approximate how Lee or Kinski would have done it themselves. The result is that you never really buy whats going on screen. Certainly this would be perfect if you stumbled on it at 2am on late night TV, but I would be hard pressed to suggest actually renting or buying this on DVD and putting it on willingly.

Well this was ghastly.

If there's one thing I cannot abide, it's dubbing. This is a German film dubbed into English. The dubbing here sounds like it was done by people in grammar school. It's appalling. People using exaggerated gangster voices or being overly cheerful.

The kicker is that you can tell that it's supposed to be a comedy.

American thugs are in London threatening wealthy people with death if they don't pay up. Lots of people don't pay so they're shot, knifed, or blown up.

Christopher Lee is an FBI agent - dubbed - stars with Klaus Kinski - dubbed. I understand Lee's German is exquisite. Alas I just heard another man speaking English for him.

Very convoluted plot which i figured out.

One really had to see this in German - the dubbing was too distracting even to enjoy the humorous sections or characterizations.

Terrible Dubbing Alert!! This DVD of MYSTERY OF THE ORHCID is terrible, as it only has the very poorly dubbed English version. The original German dialog is not an option and this is a shame, as I would have loved to hear Christopher Lee speaking German. Plus, the dubbing was done so badly I just hated the film. Oddly, while Lee and Klaus Kinski speak English, neither does their own dubbing and voices that sound nothing like theirs are used instead. Often, the silliest voices are used--sounding very fake and stupid. However, take note--my review is ONLY for this dubbed version. The original film might be a lot better and worth seeing--especially since some dubbings actually change around the plot and even produce a very different movie from the original.

The film is a gangster flick--just the sort of thing you wouldn't expect to see with Christopher Lee--especially since he plays an American FBI man. It begins with one gang of mobsters wiping out another. Then, the mobster who was responsible is shown being deported. Soon after, various rich folks start receiving extortion letters--they either must pay or die! Oddly, in a mistranslation, they call it 'blackmail'--a slightly different crime.

Frankly, this is an incredibly dull film from start to finish--despite its extortion plot. With lousy dubbing, bad music and lousy writing, I can't see much reason to waste your time with this one.