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| Anti-hero: Robert Stack |
THE CORRUPT ONES (aka
Die Holle von Macao/1967). Director: James Hill.
Photographer Cliff Wilder (Robert Stack of
The Last Voyage) escapes from Red China and makes his way by boat to Macao with an adventurer named Danny Mancini (Maurizio Arena), who tells him of a certain "Peking Medallion" that can point the way to a fabulous treasure. Danny has the medallion in his possession, but not for long, as he is brutally murdered. Others interested in the medallion include his widow, Lily (Elke Sommer); a mobster named Brandon (Christian Marquand); a sort of wealthy "Dragon Lady" named Tina (Nancy Kwan); and even the Chief of Police, Pinto (Werner Peters of
Phantom of Soho). Dodging enemies right and left and not knowing whom to trust, Wilder tries to retrieve the medallion and lay claim to the treasure.
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| Elke Sommer with Stack |
There are no actual spies in
The Corrupt Ones, but it has a lot of the same elements that you find in international eurospy productions. "Elliott Ness" -- Stack's most famous role -- comes on to every woman he meets within seconds, takes on numerous opponents in assorted fight scenes, is dragged behind a speeding power boat at one point, saves Lily from torture at the hands of Tina, and carries on in many ways like a "super-spy" without actually being one. Stack generally handles this with aplomb, and while Sommer and others in the cast are dubbed, we can hear his real voice throughout.
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| Nancy Kwan, Werner Peters, Christian Marquand |
The production values in the film are above average, with Tina's gorgeous home being of special distinction, along with the cavern set where the treasure is located. The musical score is effective and appropriate. An amusing sequence has Stack turning down one proffered prostitute after another in a club and telling the startled madam "I'm waiting for a man" -- although he's actually referring to an appointment with Danny. The characters in this are unpleasant and one-dimensional but the picture is quite entertaining. James Hill also directed
A Study in Terror.
Never was a big fan of Stack, or Elke Sommer for that matter, but I do love the delightful Nancy Kwan. She did not do enough on the big screen, and she was such a lovely actress with undeniable star quality!
ReplyDeleteI believe director James Hill was briefly married to Rita Hayworth in the 60s, where her erratic pre-Alzheimer's erratic episodes began. He was also producing partner with Burt Lancaster, I believe.
-Chris
You're thinking of the American producer James Hill, who was briefly married to Hayworth. This James Hill was a British director, also responsible for the dreadful "Man from ORGY."
ReplyDeleteStack was always a little too wooden for my tastes, although he probably made the perfect Elliot Ness. Sommer flared up briefly in the sixties -- not one of my favorites, either -- then faded out. Apparently she is still acting overseas. Kwan's big role and debut was in "Suzie Wong." She had a lot of credits after that but nothing that notable aside from "Flower Drum Song," in which, if I recall correctly, she was truly delightful.