Dr Doom SUBS 15th Mar 2016
| | Rated 6/10This film feels like an overly extended episode of The Avengers or some other Pop-Art espionage candyfloss TV show. From the opening Psychedelic credit sequence to the traditional Bond ending of Roger Moore seducing the leading lady it has every swinging spy cliché in the book.
The plot concerns a gigolo advertising executive (Moore) who hires the not very convincingly Hungarian model (Lange) for a campaign and gets caught up trying to save her from a fascist underground sect who want her dead. The fascists, led by Aunt Jo (Hyer) think she knows of their plot to infiltrate the hippy protest group M.F.P. (Marchers for peace) and assassinate a visiting head of state creating enough unrest for them to seize control of Britain. Hmm.
The M.F.P. are hilarious hippy stereotypes led by Lord Tarquin (!) who ride around in an open top jeep (Blow-Up!) and have parties where people play songs on acoustic guitars. Lois Lane treats us to this particularly cringeworthy lyric - " A shadow fell on his face and a teardrop fell for the human race"
Roger Moore pretty much holds this film together. His minimal acting style is the antidote to the ludicrous plot and painful script. Take for example his first meeting with Marla Kogash the Hungarian model at the centre of it all.
Moore: "Miss Goulash?"
Lange: "Goulash is a Hungarian dish"
<Moore actions the famous "Eyebrow">
Moore: "Goulash it is then"
Classic Moore I'm sure you will agree.
This was his first major film role and it would be another four years before he played Bond.
Other bits to looks out for...
The baddies in a Rolls Royce chasing the goodies in a mini - How English can you get?
Gabrielle Drake (Nick's sister) in a bit part as Moore's P.A.
Dudley Sutton (Tinker from Lovejoy) as a baddie with awesome fuzzy sideburns.
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