The Bond-induced reboot of the Bulldog Drummond series, Deadlier Than the Male is a surprisingly well-funded and cast extravaganza that turns out to be a blast from start to finish. There are plenty of witty one-liners crossed with campy action, yet the film never compromises with its tone. Ralph Thomas delivers a venture that would put a lot of Sean Connery's 007 outings to shame.
Richard Johnson, the original choice for Bond but sadly turned the role down, plays Bulldog off as a suave superspy with a lot of humanity and humility yet even in his moments of violent fisticuffs and torture never becomes unlikable. Nigel Green plays off the criminal mastermind with brilliant panache it's the 60s stunners of Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina who really steal the film. They are despicably evil without any redeeming features; keen to sadistically torture people as they are to kill them, more than living up to the film's title.
With some top-notch writing from Hammer regular Jimmy Sangster, superb set design and pacing, all mixed with a plot ripped right out of TV's The Avengers, very John Barry-inspired brass for its music by Malcolm Lockyer and brilliant title song by The Walker Brothers, Deadlier Than the Male is a real treat for those looking for their 007 fix.
Richard Johnson, the original choice for Bond but sadly turned the role down, plays Bulldog off as a suave superspy with a lot of humanity and humility yet even in his moments of violent fisticuffs and torture never becomes unlikable. Nigel Green plays off the criminal mastermind with brilliant panache it's the 60s stunners of Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina who really steal the film. They are despicably evil without any redeeming features; keen to sadistically torture people as they are to kill them, more than living up to the film's title.
With some top-notch writing from Hammer regular Jimmy Sangster, superb set design and pacing, all mixed with a plot ripped right out of TV's The Avengers, very John Barry-inspired brass for its music by Malcolm Lockyer and brilliant title song by The Walker Brothers, Deadlier Than the Male is a real treat for those looking for their 007 fix.