ESPIONAGE IN TANGIER (1965)
(a.k.a. MARC MATO, AGENTE S.077)
Article #1182 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 6-9-2004
Posting Date: 11-6-2004
Directed by Gregg C. Tallas
Featuring Luis Davila, Jose Greci, Perla Cristal

When a scientist develops a powerful ray gun, it is stolen, and superspy Mike Murphy is sent out to recover it.

At the time of writing this review this movie is sitting with a 9.5 rating on IMDB. I guess this proves that I just don’t get the genre, because I thoroughly disliked it. The opening of the movie is actually quite good; within a two-minute period we actually see four double-crosses and the resulting four deaths; this all happens so fast that it’s the comic highlight of the movie. Unfortunately, I should have turned it off then; between the unpleasant hero (he’s no good at double entendres so he gets women to sleep with him by slapping them around), the dull car chases, the sometimes sadistic violence and torture, and a horribly lame ending, this was one of the most unsatisfactory trips I’ve ever had into these low-budget Bond rip-offs. The movie’s full length is 92 minutes; my version only runs sixty. I consider this a blessing. Your mileage may be better if you’re a fan of this type of movie, or if the prospect of keeping your eyes pealed for a pre-Bond George Lazenby seems like a good time to you.

Oh, and did I mention the soundtrack? I can’t decide which movie music is worse; the one-fingered piano playing or that shrill warbling noise that pops up occasionally.