Victim Five

Prolific producer & writer Harry Alan Towers concocted the story for this lightly entertaining, eminently forgettable action-thriller set in South Africa. Lex Barker ("The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism") stars as "Steve Martin" (!), an American private eye hired by copper mine owner Wexler (Walter Rilla, "The Scarlet Pimpernel") to find out who murdered his valet, and why. It turns out that the crime has a connection to the men in a key photograph left by the victims' body.

The main novelty here is the Cape Town setting. It's very attractively photographed by Nicolas Roeg, and the scenery is often breathtaking. The story is enjoyable enough, but nothing special. It doesn't help that the ending is kind of clumsy, as the antagonist basically reveals themselves in a rather abrupt manner.

Still, the second unit work is first-rate. Those scenes of driving by the sea are excellent, and the film actually stops cold for about three or four minutes for a major underwater sequence that, much like the scenes on land, is very well photographed. The jazzy score by Johnny Douglas is jaunty and fun to listen to.

The cast is enjoyable to watch. Barker is a charismatic hero who of course always has time for the ladies. But then, so does jovial police inspector Lean (Ronald Fraser, "Fathom"). Fraser and French babe Veronique Vendell ("Barbarella") are most amusing, with the latter playing Wexlers' hot-to-trot stepdaughter who practically throws herself at Steve. Danish beauty Ann Smyrner ("Reptilicus") is appealing as Wexlers' secretary. Dietmar Schonherr (who also acted for director Robert Lynn in "Mozambique") and Gert van den Bergh ("The Naked Prey") also co-star.

All in all, this is the kind of non-challenging, easygoing, amiable entertainment that you throw on if you just want to relax for an hour and a half.

Six out of 10.

With a title that sounds more like the final score of a computer corporation's soccer match than a spy movie, CODE 7, VICTIM 5 takes the then-Sean Connery/James Bond blueprint into b-movie territory under flowing direction from Robert Lynn but more importantly with creatively maneuvered and vibrantly colored cinematography by future legendary auteur Nicolas Roeg, providing former Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller's replacement) actor Lex Barker on a case to discover who murdered a millionaire's servant at a bizarre South African parade...

But Barker's character Steve Martin (also Raymond Burr's name in GODZILLA before THE JERK comic became famous) is more busy with two lovely dames, equally alluring in their own right while following neo-noir cinema tropes...

As in, there's a good girl and bad (ie naughty/flirtatious)... with the millionaire boss's professionally-pretty assistant Ann Smyrner, who our handsome hero instantly takes-to like they've been in a five-year relationship, and scene-stealing cherub-faced Véronique Vendell, who previously appeared with Peter O'Toole in BECKETT...

The latter is the big man's extremely progressive niece... and while it's predictable that Barker (partnered with quirky woman-loving British cop Ronald Fraser) was hired by a not-so-honest client, what's truly entertaining are the creative ways he gets in and out of trouble in the African and British locations... from almost driving off a cliff to dodging bullets in an ancient cavern to dangerously snorkeling in a blue-green reef to avoiding an ostrich stampede... proving that the action/espionage genre's neglected vehicles can sometimes equal (or exceed) the blockbusters they're emulating.

Made in 1964. In some countries, this is victim 5, in some countries, its "code 7 victim 5". Lex barker is american private eye steve martin. I know, i can't stop picturing the american standup slash film star! Steve has a meeting with rich mining bigshot wexler (riller). Wexler's servant has been knocked off, and wexler wants to get to the bottom of it. It runs kind of like a james bond film, but at a cheaper budget and slower pace. When they have killed a wild lion, we even hear james bondish sounding music. Beautiful scenery of the cliffs, bays, mountains, and parks as they go traipsing around south africa following clues. There's a quirky inspector lean ( fraser), who nevers seems to be at his office. He's too busy having drinks with the steady stream of girls in bikinis who are always walking past. Directed by robert lynn, british director, who made "mozambique" just after this. Murder and mayhem in exotic places. Story by harry towers, who was a prolific writer and producer. Barker died at 54, of a bad heart. The film is okay.

Considering most 1960s movies are cinemgraphic garbage, this movie is beautiful in color and action. Capetown is a gem and the scenes grab as much scenery as possible. Although the story develops slowly, viewers wanting to see Rex Barker get what they want. Lots of hot girls, him kissing them, him in a swim suit and watching one hot hot man, in action. He had James Bond beat in my book. His early passing a true loss.

Here we have another fine script by the very talented Peter Yeldham. The dialogue is crisp and often witty. As for the actors, they are all good. As an American, I noticed a lot of European accents, but that was interesting, not a flaw.

The plot has good action and it never drags. And, there is great South African scenery throughout the movie! The music is also very good, bouncy and zestful. Lex Barker does very well in the lead role. Having just watched a superb blu-ray print, and having really liked the movie, I have no hesitation in recommending it. The action, mystery and love interest elements are nicely balanced. This is a very watchable movie.