Mission spéciale Lady Chaplin

"Lady Chaplin, in her touch, there is something that means much..." says the song sung by Bobby Solo early in the film, as Daniela Bianchi appears only in some turquoise panties, very sexy, and we see the yellow car rolling down the rocks, when she might as well keep it, she had no reason to push it into the sea. Ken Clark is better than in "Tiffany Memorandum", the story is better(actually, we got a story), we even have an original hanging scene at minute 15.24. So, when disguised as a nun, when as an old lady in a wheelchair, Lady Chaplin-Daniela Bianchi (the beautiful from "From Russia with Love") kills in cold blood everyone she has to. Actually, they are a team of two sexy young women killers, exactly like in Deadlier Than the Male. The gadgets are not missing: if Elke Sommer kills with a bullet-cigar, Bianchi(who looks like a twin sister of Jill Ireland) kills with a gun disguised in the wheelchair. All the fight scenes look very real and, overall, it is pleasant to watch.

This is the third and final film starring secret agent Dick Malloy (Ken Clark). I have not seen either of the previous films but they are spy films much like the 007 films, but made by Italians and starring this lesser-known American actor in the lead.

When the film begins, Lady Chaplin (Daniela Bianchi...of "From Russia With Love" fame) dresses up like a nun and kills some monks in a monastery. Clearly, this lady lacks scruples and she'll come into contact with Dick sooner of later. As for Dick, his boss is worried about a sunken American sub, the USS Thresher. On board are Polaris missiles...nuclear missiles and the good guys need to get to them first. Unfortunately, when Dick goes exploring, he finds the sub but the missile tubes are empty! How does Lady Chaplin play into all this and will she fall for Dick by the end of the movie?

Like a Bond film, this movie has a nice international look--with location shoots in New York, Spain, France, Italy and the UK! It also looks good...with a better than usual budget for an Italian film of the era. Like Bond, this agent has his gadgets and the plot is pretty similar to the Bond thriller "Thunderball"...which debuted the previous year. So is it up to Bond quality or worth seeing? I'd say no and maybe. No, it's not quite bond in quality (such as camera-work, acting and props) and whether or not you will enjoy it depends on if you can get past seeing a relatively bland secret agent...and Dick is a bit limp as a character. But if you simply cannot get enough 007 and don't mind that he's sort of a cheap substitute, Dick is work seeing.

In this third and final part of the series about Agent 077, who is actually called Dick Malloy (Ken Clark), but is referred to as Jack Clifton in German-speaking countries, there is a very special character with the Bond girl Daniela Bianchi ("With Love") attractive guest star on board.

Lady Arabella Chaplin (Daniela Bianchi) is a renowned fashion designer. Nobody suspects that she also works as a very versatile killer lady. When the possibility of recovering atomic bombs from a sunken ship arises, it naturally attracts both secret services and criminal gangs. Super agent Dick Malloy (Ken Clark) is of course sent into the fray by his boss Heston (Philippe Hersent). There he meets some breathtaking women (Helga Line, born in Berlin in 1932, Mabel Karr and the fantastic Ida Galli) and the mysterious Kobre Zoltan (Jacques Bergerac). Not to forget: the enchanting Lady Arabella!

EuroSpy at its best! Locations in New York City, London, Madrid, Rome and Paris! Lots of action, beautiful women and a good pinch of frivolity. Of course, Ken Clark (1927-2009) is no Sean Connery, but he also has impressive chest fur to offer. He cuts a fine figure in mattress sports and in close combat.

And Daniela Bianchi can be seen in her star role as a beautiful, exquisitely dressed and mysterious woman, who also has her violent moments here, for example when she "takes out" several monks as a nun.

This lively film from the EuroSpy wedding was directed by Alberto De Martino and Sergio Grieco. It was produced by Edmondo Amati and Jacques Roitfeld. The music worth listening to comes from Bruno Nicolai.

I would highly recommend this . Very fun and extraordinary . Rec. from Eurospy Guide by Matt Blake/David Deal.

This is Ken Clark's most Bondian adventure and it is a hoot. Despite the fact that the numbers `077' are prominently featured on the door of a taxi taken by Ken at one of the many airports in this movie, this is not a Coplan flick. Ken is CIA agent Dick Malloy and although he looks slightly uncomfortable in his designer duds, he's still mighty dapper. SMLC was Ken's fourth spy flick and it's one of the most enjoyable especially for those who want to come down easy from Bond. It's full of gadgetry and has a Fleming feel to the plot.

Don't miss this fun adventure. It's easily as entertaining as any Bond flick despite the absence of a charismatic villain.