PARADISIO (1961)
Article 3216 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 4-8-2010
Posting Date: 6-4-2010
Directed by H. Haile Chace
Featuring Arthur Howard, Eva Wagner, 20 international beauties
Country: UK
What it is: Comic science fiction nudie thriller travelogue

A British professor witnesses the death of his friend Professor Kropotkin. However, he comes by Kropotkin’s last invention – spectacles that can see through clothing. He tries to deliver them to a colleague, but discovers spies are also after the glasses. In the meantime, he checks out how well they work.

Let’s face it; the movie is basically an excuse to look at nude women in 3D. The science fiction element is the glasses themselves, the comedy is tepid, the travelogue is just that, and the thriller (which includes a chase scene by gondola) is thrill-less. To its credit, it occasionally uses the central gimmick in clever ways; for one, it proves essential in helping him figure out Laura Hinkle is a Russian spy. My favorite touch is early on when he uses the glasses for the first time; if you can tear your eyes away from the shepherdess, take a look at the sheep. Inconsequential, but harmless.