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Hammerhead
An American agent has tracked down the stronghold of an evil criminal mastermind, determined to take over the world (what, another one ?).
Release : | 1968 |
Rating : | 5.1 |
Studio : | Irving Allen Productions, |
Crew : | Art Direction, Set Decoration, |
Cast : | Vince Edwards Judy Geeson Peter Vaughan Diana Dors Michael Bates |
Genre : | Thriller Science Fiction |
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Reviews
To me, this movie is perfection.
The Age of Commercialism
Such a frustrating disappointment
Let's be realistic.
I think with a bit better script, this could have been a pretty good spy film. As it is, I can see why Vince Edwards never went on to be the next Bond!Edwards plays Charles Hood--an international man of adventure who is called upon to, what else, save the world from a baddie. The big difference is that Mr. Hammerhead is also a pervert with a taste for good old fashioned. The problem is exactly WHAT Hammerhead's plan is going to be is anyone's guess and through the course of the film, Hood puts the pieces together but almost gets killed in the process. Along the way, he's teamed up with one of the most annoying women in spy film history, a kooky idiot named Sue (Judy Geeson).So why wasn't I thrilled with this film? The biggest reason was Geeson's character who was just annoying and made little sense. Additionally, nothing about the movie otherwise is outstanding--not Edwards, the script or the direction. The only standout, really, is the nice Portuguese location for the shoot.
'Hammerhead' was a late addition to the seemingly endless cycle of James Bond imitations that swamped cinemas in the mid-'60's. Based on a novel by James Mayo, it stars Vince Edwards as American agent 'Charles Hood', who is assigned by Colonel Condor ( Patrick Cargill ) of British Intelligence to investigate the activities of evil millionaire Mr.Hammerhead ( Peter Vaughan ). Hood travels to Lisbon with a crate of pornography ( Hammerhead is fascinated by the stuff ) which he hopes to sell to the arch-villain. Getting in his way at all times is lovely model Sue Trenton ( Judy Geeson ). Hammerhead has a palatial villa and a yacht called 'Triton'. One of his staff, Andreas ( Michael Bates ) is training to impersonate Sir Richard Calvert ( also played by Bates ) with a view to infiltrating a meeting of NATO chiefs of staff and photographing a top secret report into Western defense.What distinguishes it from the Bond series - and indeed so many other similar films - are the squirts of hippie atmosphere that book-end the movie. 'Hood' is a colourless character, but Edwards makes a decent fist of it. Peter Vaughan enjoys himself hugely as the titular villain ( 'Espiritu Lobar' in the book ), a sort of cross between 'Auric Goldfinger' and Howard Hughes. Michael Bates is especially good, and Diana Dors and Beverly Adams add to the glamour. Strangely, despite all the beautiful girls around, Hood does not get to bed any of them ( though its hinted he and Sue will be heading for bed as the end credits roll ). William Mervyn, known mainly for comedy roles ( such as in 'All Gas & Gaiters' ), plays one of Hammerhead's men, and Dave 'Darth Vader' Prowse is a super-strong henchman. Irving Allen, the producer, was also responsible for the 'Matt Helm' series starring Dean Martin. While I liked this movie better than the last three Helm pictures, it did not quite come up to the standard of the first - 'The Silencers'.In the action stakes the movie is okay but not particularly outstanding. The Triton yacht is so impressive I was looking forward to seeing it blown up at the end, but it does not happen. Neither does Hood get to fight the Prowse character. The villains have a few gadgets, such a lipstick radio and a tape recorder in a matchbox, but Hood has none! Some good fights though, and a couple of exciting chases through the back alleys of Lisbon. There is one hilarious moment when Hood and Sue, trapped in a coffin, try to summon help from a passing motorcyclist ( Kenneth Cope ). As soon as he sees them, he keels over from shock!Hood made no further appearances on the big screen, which is kind of a pity as the next two books in the series - 'Let Sleeping Girls Lie' and 'Shamelady' - would have in my view made good movies.
Third rate Bond ripoff,with super villain,scantily clad women,etc.About the only moment I even really remember is *NOT A SPOILER* with about 10 minutes left, the wind from a helicopter blows Judy Geeson's skirt up, giving us a good 3-4 second look at her white briefs.That should tell you how memorable the entire movie is.To the first comment,at the bottom,the *SPOILER* ending you described,was to an equally awful film,from the year before, called "The Day the fish came out."
This has to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I watched it on television years ago, my wife and I have used it as a standard for the worst ever sense. It was so bad, I turned it off, thought maybe it would get better, turned it back on, three times. Even the music was terrible. HammmmmmmmmmmmmmerHead, still rings in my ears.