Made in the heyday of the 60s spy craze, Deadlier Than the Male takes H. C. McNeile's hero Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond and gives him a swinging, secret agent spin. Under the pen name "Sapper," McNeile wrote ten Bulldog Drummond novels from 1920 until his death in 1937, when his friend Gerard Fairlie took over the series and wrote seven more. The character proved very popular in film as well print, portrayed by actors such as Ronald Colman, Ralph Richardson, John Howard, Tom Conway and Walter Pidgeon, among others. After a 15-year absence from theaters, Deadlier Than the Male resurrected the old-school Drummond in the person of slim, saturnine and dry-witted Richard Johnson. Pretty much all that remains of McNeile's original character is cosmetic: he's still an upper-class Brit bachelor who fights crime and his nation's enemies. The rest is all knock-off 007, but as James Bond wannabes go, this is one of the better ones. The title is taken from the Rudyard Kipling poem, "The Female of the Species" (also the title of the 5th Drummond novel), and the film lives up to its title by presenting two of the more glamorous and gleefully sadistic female assassins to strut across the screen. The film opens on board oil executive Keller's private jet, as gorgeous blonde Irma Eckman (Elke Sommer), posing as a stewardess, calmly lights an explosive cigar for him, strips down to a skimpy white wetsuit, dons a parachute and dives out of the plane before it, and all the other staff on board, are blown to smithereens. Splashing down in the sea, Irma is picked up by a motorboat driven by her equally stunning cohort, Penelope (Sylvia Koscina), and the two zoom cheerfully away, as the sub-Bondian main title tune (sung by pop group The Walker Brothers) croons on. It isn't until an old chum named Wyngarde is killed (by speargun) by Irma and Penelope in front of his Mediterranean villa, that Hugh Drummond gets involved in the case. No longer the private detective of the novels (and minus the "Bulldog" nickname), now Drummond apparently works for the famed insurance company, Lloyds of London. Drummond is summoned by the chairman of the Phoenician Oil Company, Sir John Bledlow (Laurence Naismith), who is suspicious about a mysterious organization that charges a million pounds to "remove" certain obstacles to various corporations' business interests, and asks Drummond to look into the affair. When snide Phoenician boardmember Henry Bridgenorth (played by Leonard Rossiter, best known to UK TV fans as Reginald Perrin) votes to not pay this mysterious company its promised million pound fee, he's not long for this world: Irma and Penelope paralyze him with a drug and dump him, fully conscious, from his penthouse window to a messy death on the pavement below. Next on their hit list is fellow board member Weston (Nigel Green), buried under the rubble of his exploded office. Soon Drummond becomes the ladies' next target, and they send him a gift of some bullet-filled cigars, mistakenly received by his visiting American nephew, Robert (Steve Carlson), who's entertaining a young lady friend in Uncle Hugh's flat. When that assassination attempt fails, Drummond is subsequently set upon in a car park by a handful of hired thugs, an exciting and well-staged brawl in which Hugh gets to show off his judo skills and thrashes his opponents. Meanwhile, Penelope easily ensnares young horndog Robert and takes him back to a rented London flat, where she coos and caresses him in between bouts of torture (including burning him with cigarettes and, it's implied, pulling out his fingernails). In a neat little humorous riff on the classic movie serial cliffhanger, Hugh arrives in the proverbial nick of time to rescue Robert from a ticking bomb. Hugh would like nothing better than to leave his nephew in the hospital to recover while he carries on with the investigation, but once he learns that the sinister organization's next target is King Fedra (Zia Mohyeddin), an old Princeton chum of Robert's vacationing on the Italian Riviera, the elder Drummond agrees to take Robert along. The pair arrive in La Spezia, Liguria, Italy and, while Robert keeps tabs on his old friend the king, Hugh decides to accept an invitation to the castle lair of Carl Peterson, the actual mastermind behind the female assassination organization - who turns out to be none other than the supposedly deceased Weston. The stage is set for a final showdown between Drummond and Peterson, as the two go head-to-head in a game of giant robot chess, while the clock is counting fatally down on a bomb secreted somewhere on King Fedra's yacht... Like other similar spy spoofs, Deadlier Than the Male can't compete with the Bond series in the big-budget action setpiece sweepstakes; there's some good fisticuffs, judo flips and shoot-outs here and there, but everything's decidedly small-scale. What the movie does offer as recompense is an assortment of exceedingly beautiful women, some witty repartee and a cheeky sense of fun that treads a fine line without devolving into camp, unlike the Matt Helm or Derek Flint movies. Johnson makes for a droll, urbane hero, and much like Sean Connery's 007, beds more than his fair share of gorgeous gals, including Bledlow's secretary Peggy Ashenden (Justine Lord), the insatiable Penelope (who wants to give him a memorable last night before his impending death at the hands of Peterson) and, it's implied, Robert's date Brenda (The Abominable Dr. Phibes' Vulnavia herself, Virginia North, here all fresh-faced and adorable). Showing he has perhaps slightly more finicky standards than Bond, Drummond spurns the advances of the amoral Irma; unlike Bond, Drummond is never shown as the agressor in these encounters, merely the agreeable recipient, and something about Irma's icy, calculating demeanor turns him off (the crazy fool). Overall, Johnson cuts an appropriately suave, sophisticated figure throughout, whether playing chess with Peggy in his club, trading cultured insults with Peterson or dallying with the various lethal ladies he comes across. Nigel Green matches him as the arch, arrogant Peterson. Green (so good as the stalwart Nayland Smith in The Face of Fu Manchu a few years earlier) is always an imposing presence, and he and Johnson make the most of their brief screen time together. German-born Elke Sommer and Croatian-born, Italian-raised Sylvia Koscina both seem to be having a fine old time as the ruthless sexpot assassins, Sommer's Irma the focused, in-charge one and Koscina's Penelope the playful, cheerful assistant. Suzanna Leigh livens up the final act as Grace, a reluctant recruit to Peterson's army of female killers. Naismith, Rossiter, and other veteran Brit character actors like George Pastell, Milton Reid and William Mervyn round out the cast. The film was directed with serviceable flair by Ralph Thomas, and while he certainly lacked the equivalent budget afforded even the earlier, comparatively modest Bond films, the movie looks sumptuous enough, with the scenes filmed in Italy adding a welcome bit of scenery to go along with the acres of pulchritude on display. The film ran afoul of the strict British censors, who objected to its rampant sadism, kinky violence and promiscuity and slapped it with their "X" rating upon its initial release. Though it's surely tame stuff by today's standards, there's enough of a nasty edge to the killings to balance the typical 60s upbeat, snazzy spy movie tone, and somehow the movie seems more effortlessly sexy than more overt, flesh-baring films of recent vintage. Leonard Rossiter, before he takes his fatal plunge. I've seen plenty of the myriad spy films that followed in the wake of Bond mania, and can assure those who enjoy such things that they'll get their money's worth with Deadlier Than the Male. While the "female assassin" plot device is not new in this particular subgenre (it's done with considerable panache in The Avengers episode "How to Succeed...at Murder," for example), this film plays much more successfully as a thriller than the goofy, camp hijinks of the similarly-plotted James Coburn vehicle In Like Flint or the sloppy, action-bereft Matt Helm series (with sleepwalking lead Dean Martin). While nowhere near the sober, stylish Harry Palmer trio of films featuring Michael Caine - The Ipcress File (also starring Nigel Green), Funeral in Berlin and Billion Dollar Brain, superior anti-Bonds all - Deadlier Than the Male is definitely in the upper echelon of 60s spy capers and is in the end a whole lot of spicy fun, with a nice sense of stiff-upper-lipped Englishness about it. And dig that cool, super-sized robotic chess set! The film proved successful enough to generate a sequel, Some Girls Do, in 1969 (also directed by Thomas). Richard Johnson returned as Drummond, pitted once again against Carl Peterson (this time played by James Villiers), along with Daliah Lavi, Bebe Loncar, Robert Morley and Maurice Denham. While not without its own charms, it was a case of diminishing returns and no further Bulldog Drummond films, spy spoof or otherwise, have since been released. DVD Note: The above screencaps were taken from my copy of Hen's Tooth Video's 2003 non-anamorphic letterboxed release of Deadlier Than the Male. Much better value is Network's Region 2 double-feature set from 2005, including both this film and Some Girls Do in reportedly nice anamorphic widescreen transfers, along with some fun-sounding vintage extras. Those with region-free DVD players are directed to the latter version. So glad you wrote up this spy film, Jeff. I think it's extremely entertaining on so many levels. Really enjoyed this movie. From the very beginning with Elke parachuting out of a surreally blue sky while Scott Walker sings "The female of the species is deadlier than the male" to the final bizarre chess game that seems like something out of "The Avengers." Dashing Richard Johnson in the lead, unctuous Nigel Greene as a villain, the beautiful actresses -- how can you go wrong? Never knew about the sequel. Will have to track down a copy. And for Region 2 no less. Huzzah, huzzah!
Jeff
8/6/2013 10:46:45 pm
Thank you for your comment, John! Glad to see another fan of this lesser-known spy flick. There's a nice swagger to the film, and we certainly agree on all the high points. The chess game in particular was a nice, surreal touch. Haven't seen the sequel in forever, and that PAL 2-disc set is in the hopper for my next DVD order. 8/1/2013 05:39:14 pm
I have to say Jeff, you terrific write-up has really made me want to see this one again, and I NEVER thought I'd think that again. There were so many spy spoofs during the 60s Bond boom that I probably didn't give this one a fair shake despite the script being co-written by one of my faves, Hammer Stalwart Jimmy Sangster. I'll have to get the Network disc as your piece also made me realise that Summer and Koscina both re-appeared in Mario Bava's unsung classic, LISA AND THE DEVIL (later recut as HOUSE OF EXORCISM), which I just got on an amazing Blu-ray from Arrow DVD here in the UK - thanks chum for the elucidation, as always.
Jeff
8/6/2013 11:19:53 pm
Most kind, Sergio - cheers, mate! I have to say I enjoyed DEADLIER THAN THE MALE a lot more upon this recent watch than the last time (when I first picked up the Hen's Tooth DVD). I'd say it's certainly in the upper echelon of 60s spy capers.
Nicely done Jeff. I really like this movie, very different from the John Howard Bulldog Drummond movies of the thirties.
Jeff
8/6/2013 11:24:33 pm
Thanks a bunch, Colin! You're right, this is a very different beast from the traditional Bulldog Drummond fare, such as the John Howard films. I love those early films, but I've got room for this "swinging 60s" version, too. Interesting to read your comment about SOME GIRLS DO. I really need to re-visit that one again someday. I remember enjoying it but it was many, many years ago, so who knows how it has aged for me. Am intrigued by that cast list, though.
I love Richard Johnson, but the IN LIKE FLINT faux-Bond approach...jeepers. :)
Jeff
8/5/2013 07:45:16 pm
Yeah, this one might be one step too far from the original recipe for you, Clayton...but as you know, I eat tis sort of stuff up. Thanks for the comment!
Jeff
8/6/2013 11:26:08 pm
Thanks, Rick! Your opinion of SOME GIRLS DO seems to be the common one...I imagine it must be pretty silly but I've got enough regard for Richard Johnson and the first film to be curious about re-acquainting myself with the sequel. And you're right, Sylvia Koscina is worth watching anytime.
Kevin Deany
8/5/2013 04:36:50 am
I've never seen it, but it looks great. I do get a kick out of some those gimmicky 1960s set pieces, like a giant robot chess board. Yet another movie to add to the "to see" list.
Jeff
8/6/2013 11:27:45 pm
Appreciate the comment, Kevin! Judging from what I gather from your blog re: your taste in actresses, I think the eye candy quotient alone would make this one a worthwhile watch for you. If you ever get around to seeing it, drop me a line someday to let me know what you think.
First of all, Jeff, thank you so much for your kind words about the recent loss of my sweet beagle, Nikki. Her passing has been agonizingly painful for our whole family. The compassion and caring of friends has been comforting to us.
Jeff
8/6/2013 11:33:00 pm
You're very welcome, Patti! Anybody who loves animals and has had pets pass away knows what a hole that leaves in the family.
Neil
8/9/2013 07:20:30 pm
Bikini girls with spearguns? You had me at "hello"... : )
Jeff
8/9/2013 11:07:46 pm
As in "Hello vicar"? ;) Yep, gotta like bikini girls wielding spearguns! Cheers, Neil!
I don't think this movie is my cup of tea, but I enjoyed your review very much. It pleases me very much to see that the Bond movies have been spoofed on a regular basis.
Jeff
8/11/2013 06:16:27 pm
Thank you for the kind comments, Ruth - much appreciated! I'm glad you continue to visit my blog even if some of the films I highlight aren't exactly the sort of stuff you normally like.
Neil
8/13/2013 04:10:09 pm
Not entirely on topic here, but I was wondering if you were a fan of Donald E. Westlake's books and the movie adaptations of them? I just reread his first two "Parker" books and it reminded me of seeing the 1999 Mel Gibson flick "Payback." Of course there was a new "Parker" movie starring Jason Statham this year, I don't think either actor really does the character justice. "The Grifters" was the best Westlake adaptation I have seen, though admittedly I have not seen many of them, as there have been a lot!
Jeff
8/13/2013 08:46:26 pm
Hey Neil! I reviewed THE OUTFIT last year here: Hi Jeff, hope all is well! I hadn't heard of this one but sound very intriguing indeed. Female assassins done in Bondian fashion, I'm surprised we haven't seen a remake of this, ahah. Not that they should do it mind you, there are too many remakes out there as it is. Great review as always!
Jeff
8/19/2013 04:38:31 am
Thanks as always, Ruth! Couldn't agree with you more about Hollywood's reliance on remakes...it seems they've long since run out of original ideas...though occasionally we get lucky and a DISTRICT 9 or MOON slips through.
OOF! Gave it a shot on Youtube (SOME GIRLS DO is there as well), and I have to say, for a really quite bad ball of gooey cheese, it was quite gooey and somewhat cheesy-bad. :) The sequel was the same. It's like a Bond version of an AIRPLANE-type spoof ("have you ever seen a robot chess piece naked, Billy?")...but done in deadpan.
Jeff
8/26/2013 03:01:37 am
Well, I appreciate you giving it the ole' college try, Clayton! I know this era and type of film isn't exactly your bag...though I don't think it's quite as "spoofy" as you make out. 8/26/2013 02:35:35 am
Jeff, my pal Michael Wolff of examiner.com has often praised DEADLIER THAN THE MALE, and even has music from it, but I've never had a chance to see the film itself. Now more than ever, your review and its nifty pictures and a practically all-star-cast of hot evil babes (by the way, Elke Sommer was also fun in the Hitchcockian comedy-thriller THE PRIZE) sounds like good Bond-esque fun! Great job on a fun blog post :-)
Jeff
8/26/2013 03:04:38 am
Thanks a bunch, Dorian! "Hot evil babes" about sums it up perfectly! I commend your friend Mr. Wolff for interesting and eclectic taste in hot evil babe movies and cool 60s soundtracks. The score is pretty groovy, though I could live without the title tune.
Martin
8/11/2014 06:41:07 am
In the torture scene, we never see how she gets him stripped and tied to a bed. Did she beat him up first or use some other methos to get his stripped and then on the table. He's hardly going to go willingly.
Jeff
10/10/2014 11:05:19 pm
Interesting points, Martin...I must confess, I hadn't given that scene nearly as much thought as you have. Thanks for reading! Comments are closed.
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