D pour danger

A year before we were married, my wife and I went to see this movie on a date. We have not seen it since, yet we still quote a line or two from it all these decades later. I hope we do not have to wait for James Garner's death before it is released on DVD. It is a truly funny motion picture, liked even by someone like me who likes very few comedies. As I recall, the humour in this movie springs from the story, ridiculous though it may be, and that makes for a good amusing film. Robert Coote in particular was superb.

James Garner arrives in Lisbon. He's on assignment from his bank to conduct a survey on a proposed bond issue for hydro-electric power generation. As soon as he arrives, he is mistaken for a British spy sent to investigate a diamond smuggling ring. Every spy in town, down at the heels since the end of the War thinks he's the man to follow around, including Melina Mercouri. Tony Franciosa is not a spy. He's a simple smuggler, who hopes to get a 5% finder's fee, lumbered with Sandra Dee, who's on the prowl for him.

It's a somewhat cumbersome comedy, lumbered with an unfortunate score by Bert Kaempfert; one of the themes would become the hit song "Strangers in the Night." To hear it swell up, played on the mandolin made me hear Sinatra singing it, and distracted me from what was going on. Garner's irritation at being thought a spy and his unconsummated romance with Miss Mercouri began to pall until the plot began to speed up. Franciosa and Dee, on the other hand, with their blithe nonchalance, were delightful through the end.

1965s 'A Man Could Get Killed' is a great slice of 60s movie hokum. It has James Garner at his "Basically, I'm just passing through on my way to Australia" best. Added to that, the cream of England's 'old duffer' character actors, Coote, Culver, Parker and Grey. An interesting cameo from the great Irish doctor/actor Niall MacGinnis, as the ships captain. Sandra Dee is as loud as any American tourist in Europe should be allowed to get, but still gorgeous. Tony Franciosa as the pretend Portuguese smuggler is fun and of course the wonderful, and criminally underrated, Melina Mercouri stealing the show. Throw in some diamonds and it all adds up to a not bad 97 minutes of escapism. And with a nice romantic ending to the strains of, probably Bert Kaempfert's greatest tune 'Strangers in the Night'. What's not to like! I saw this film as a young boy, when first released, loved it and have never forgotten it. How this film is not available on DVD is beyond me! It's about time we had a box set of James Garner 60s films with, obviously, this film included.

I didn't really wanted to add much to the other reviews. If you've watched and just kicked back to many sixties films of this type, and find joy simply soaking the unique sights and sounds of the time that showcases some of the performers of that era, here's another offering to entertain you similarly. You can add it to the many rollicking Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, Rock Hudson, Peter Sellers, Carry on... flavor of comedies that were quite popular then, a time that weren't real for many of us born after.

The remarkable thing is, some people get the impression the actors and crew involved were having as much of a good time off camera as they were having on camera or enjoying themselves as much as the audience that enjoyed it. Not so, according to many involved who spoke about their experience making the film years after. Sandra Dee has expressed that she never wanted to make it in the first place and regrets having spent four miserable months on the picture. The first director was dismissed for having 'trouble' with the actors. James Garner was reportedly disappointed with the result. He and Tony Franciosa didn't get along well during filming either. Their fight scene in the movie was said to be quite non fictional.

In fact, Garner admitted he punched Franciosa because the guy abused and never pulled his punches against stuntmen, or tried at all to feign it as necessary. It's almost like implying Franciosa was displaying a misplaced sense of machismo and bravado on the set. Franciosa was known at the time for not being able to control his hair trigger temper.

Regardless, the fact that they were able to convince so many people they weregenuinely having great fun, getting famously along, and convey a light hearted comical movie lay testament to an actor's ability to act if nothing else.

Just a few additional information about the film that isn't mentioned on this site for those interested.

Funny the things you remember as a kid. I saw this movie with my grandparents at a drive-in and never saw it again. But I clearly remember the plot and characters. It was funny, entertaining, and well worth seeing again. I've been checking everywhere for it on DVD and would like to be notified when it comes out on DVD. Movies like this don't come around often. With the invention of computer animation and high cost movie budgets there seems to be a lack of true screenplay and character building -- "A Man Could Get Killed" was simple, well acted and memorable -- what more could you ask for in a movie? I strongly recommend seeing it if you get the chance.