User Reviews

This 1966 adventure flick was quite well done and Richard Johnson seems perfectly cast as the lead. The real treat of this flick is the women: Elke Sommer in a bikini with spear-gun is as attractive as any Bond moment, Suzannah Leigh, and the Italian beauty Sylvia Koscina. Nigel Green is great again as a corrupt adversary and the locations are great. This is a 7 out of 10. Best performance = Elke Sommer.

This blows away FATHOM with Raquel Welch. Tough chicks who are easy on the eyes in the mid-60's will always be a joy to watch. Don't sell this one short. Well worth the effort and a pleasant experience. This is definitely available so look for it if you dig those 60's spoofs!

This above-average Bond knockoff deserves to be better known. It's too imitative of the Bond pictures of the time (especially "Thunderball" - minus the underwater scenes), and the plot slows down at times, but Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina make a terrific pair of sexy, teasing assassins (with Sommer being the sexier one and Koscina the more teasing one). Nigel Green also makes a smooth villain (although he should have hired more guards!). This picture should become more widely available, because although it's not perfect, it's much better than, say, the atrocious pseudo-spoof "Our Man Flint". (**1/2)

The Bulldog Drummond character first appeared in Herman Cyril McNeile's 1920 novel entitled "Bulldog Drummond" and would be a film fixture throughout the 1930s. In 1967, at the absolute height of that decade's spy craze, the character (an admitted influence on Ian Fleming) was dusted off, refurbished and transformed into a very credible competitor in the James Bond arena. The resultant film, "Deadlier Than the Male," turns out to be one of the finest Bond wanna-bes I have ever seen, easily putting contemporaries such as Derek Flint and Matt Helm to shame. Here, insurance investigator, playboy and all-around tough guy Drummond tracks down the killers of a string of recalcitrant businessmen and tangles with a pair of deadly female assassins. As in the Bond films, there are ample attractive women on hand, some exotic locales (such as the Spanish Mediterranean coast), a suave and talkative villain, an Asian henchman, and well-integrated quips (although the film is devoid of the inane humor that would torpedo some of the Roger Moore Bonds); the film is even a Pinewood production, like the early 007s. Unlike a Bond film, "Deadlier Than the Male" does not feature any spectacular stunts or eye-popping FX. It is a more realistic spy outing, and rather than being merely a "poor man's Bond," is indeed more entertaining than some of the lesser 007 films, such as "The Man With the Golden Gun." Richard Johnson is quite fine in the lead role (he even looks a bit like Sean Connery at times!), and Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina are perfect as the lethal hitwomen, the sexy Irma and adorable Penelope (perhaps never more so than when shown in microbikinis and toting harpoon guns!). Though the film's story line is a bit too dependent on coincidence, this picture--be it a Bond pastiche, send-up, homage or rip-off--is as entertaining as can be. Too bad the sequel, 1969's "Some Girls Do," is almost impossible to see....

1966 re-imagining of Bulldog Drummond in the James Bond mold. Drummond was created in a series of stories by Sapper. He was a British soldier of fortune between the world wars who fell into one crime related tale after another. They were made into a series of films in the 30's with various people playing Drummond including Ronald Coleman and Ray Miland. Other people like Reginald Denny and John Barrymore played in support. It was for the most part a very fun series.

In Deadlier than the Male Drummond (here played by Richard Johnson) is a trouble shooting attorney investigating a series of "accidents" which he suspects are murder. The trail leads to a group of women who seem to be able to fix any problem for a price, actually a million pounds.

The film is a very good little crime action film, certainly its better than many spy films that appeared in the wake of the Bond films. There are many beautiful women, numerous witty remarks and a good number of action set pieces that are atypical in their implied violence (the torture of Drummond's nephew for example). I liked that there is a realism that the Bond films rarely had. there are no gadgets as such, though there is a life size steel chess set that figures into the plot towards the end that is amazing-especially since there was no CGI used (hey this was 1966). I liked this film a great deal. Keep an eye out for this gem on DVD or on cable, its worth taking the time to see it.

7 out of 10

Colourful and cheerful, making the most of its Italian location and although inspired by the Bond films, helping to move from that rather staid style of British spy to a much more silly and enjoyable romp. Richard Johnson is rather stiff, Nigel Green from another age and Leonard Rossiter, likeable enough in sit coms, outstays his welcome even though he is dispatched fairly early on. The real stars and around whom the movie is based are the girls, principally Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina. In or out of their bikinis these two are quite marvellous. Their subtle acting style, not to mention their good looks, ensures that they outshine the guys and help this storyless bit of popcorn pleasantly pass and hour and a half.

MASTER PLAN: expand a corporate empire via simple assassinations. Capt. Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond, a gentleman who indulged in detective work, was conceived in the 1920's in a series of novels and was in quite a few films in the 1930's and 40's. The last one before this was a 1951 potboiler "Calling Bulldog Drummond," with Walter Pidgeon. This late-in-the-game restart of sorts has Mr. Drummond (not referred to as 'Bulldog' here) as little more than an insurance investigator. However, the character and plot borrow heavily from the popular James Bond formula of the sixties and results in the closest approximation to the actual Bond films during this period, more so than the 'Flint' duo of films and the Matt Helm series of films, which featured American spies. The actor Johnson, as Drummond, even resembles Sean Connery in some shots, with a similar virile approach, a slight grim smirk & tough demeanor, and Johnson is a fine actor, so this isn't just some silly parody; yet, it does capture that same vicious streak of gallows humor. So, yes, the wicked humor is there - I mean, really wicked. The two main femme fatales (played by Sommer & Koscina) are curvaceous assassins and they're outrageously effective (hence, the film's title). They are completely amoral, enjoying their work and behaving as if they're shopping in some high-end store rather than killing people. Some of their scenes, the terminations, actually made me wince a little, probably because I'm not used to seeing such cruelty and callousness on film from females, even if it is comedic in nature and tone. Ironically, the lethal ladies would be copied by the Bond films in "Diamonds Are Forever," where the assassins were gay males rather than female.

The plot tends to be fiendishly funny, if you like that dark satire take on things: the head villain is an out-of-control capitalist, moving through the corporate world with a new set of rules and simplistic ruthlessness. If, for example, members of a board vote on a corporate resolution and it's tied 5 to 5, he simply disposes of the member whom he feels is holding up the vote, to change it in his favor. Drummond catches on to this, of course, and becomes the latest target. The best and most intense scene, straight out of the Bond movies and about an hour in, is the requisite 'villain and henchpeople have a last supper with the hero as planned victim' scenario. But, Drummond taunts the villain and provokes the henchman (a burly poor man's Oddjob) into some bad moves. Drummond proves to be fearless - he's surrounded by characters we now know to be very dangerous and ends up mocking them all - it's one of the best Bond scenes and it's not in a Bond movie. Drummond then defies expectations by refusing to partake in the also-requisite 'hero & femme fatale seduction scene,' much to the lady's surprise and anger. And, even though the budget is understandably lower than a typical Bonder (while we're in London in the 1st half, there's barely any spectacle), the filmmakers do manage to throw in that wild, weird chess board later, outdoing many of the grander set-pieces in the Bond films. Since Johnson plays it straight, even straighter than Connery some might say, much of this resembles "Dr.No" and "From Russia With Love," the Bonders which relied mostly on pure espionage. Sommer and actor Nigel Green would reunite in the Matt Helm Bond-spoof "The Wrecking Crew," playing similar characters. Drummond and Johnson would return one more time in "Some Girls Do." Hero:8 Villain:8 Femme Fatales:9 Henchmen:6 Fights:7 Stunts/Chases:6 Gadgets:6 Auto:6 Locations:7 Pace:8 overall:7

Greedy big business tycoons fighting each other for oil wealth propels a plot that is formulaic, more or less, to those James Bond spy flicks of the 1960s. Here, the most conspicuous villains are females: young, shapely, and sexually alluring.

The fantasy script is comic bookish, with absurd action segments, shallow characters that lack a back-story and have no depth; contrived coincidences in timing; witty but too clever dialogue. All of which contribute to entertainment value for viewers who don't mind an almost total absence of realism. But I do mind, and I find the film boring. The clichéd plot elements render a lack of tension, suspense, and mystery. Mostly what the filmmakers seem to want is for male viewers to fixate on the lovely, curvaceous females.

Visuals are quite dated. I did like the life-size chess players toward the end. But even the dialogue comes across as dated, like when one character challenges another to a game of chess, the first character announces in a proud voice: " ... the age of computers, Drummond", and up pops the life-size chess props controlled by remote control. The implication is clear; viewers are supposed to be impressed.

Casting consists of mostly beautiful people. Richard Johnson, as hero Hugh Drummond, is as boring as the plot. Elke Sommer plays her usual stiff, cold performance, but is less robotic than in other films of hers that I have seen. Mediterranean settings are attractive and nicely filmed. Sound effects are adequate; the opening song and some of the scenes appear to have an interesting echo chamber effect. Film editing is quite good, though the plot seems too long and drawn out; a one-hour run-time would have covered the two or three essentials.

"Deadlier Than The Male" is typical of spy films made during the 1960s, especially in tone, costumes, and script gimmicks. It's a film that will be nostalgic and entertaining to male baby boomers. I regard it as kind of a cinematic relic.

Perhaps the best of the escapist superspy movies spawned by the James Bond phenomenon,"Deadlier than the male" benefits by taking itself more seriously than the leering and campy approach found in,for example,the "Matt Helm" series and the 2 "Derek Flint" films.Richard Johnson-who could well have played James Bond,and would have brought more humanity to the role than any of the actors who played 007 managed,is excellent as Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond(a character featured in a series of books in the 20s and 30s and a number of "b" movies,reborn here as a secret agent for the swinging 60s).Nigel Green is also perfect,as a suave and very dangerous master criminal.The female assassins,played by 60s stunners Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina,are allowed to be despicably evil,and without any redeeming features(they are as keen to sadistically torture people as they are to kill them),and the sight of the murderous pair in bikinis emerging from the ocean with harpoon guns,should be as iconic as the "Ursula Andress hits the beach" moment in "Dr No".

Unfortunately the sequel to this movie,"Some girls do"(1969),though not without interest,adopted the over the top camp "Deadlier than the male" avoided,and ended the franchise.

"Deadlier Than Male" of 1967 is a stylish and highly amusing spy/adventure flick that was clearly inspired by the popularity of the 60s James Bond films. None other than Quentin Tarantino is reported to love this film, and if that rumor is true, I can see why. My personal main-reason to watch the film was the ravishing Elke Sommer, of whom I've been a fan ever since I saw her in Mario Bava's brilliant Gothic flicks "Lisa And The Devil" and "Baron Blood". And while Elke Sommer, and fellow eye-candy Silvia Koschina ("Lisa And The Devil", "La Mala Ordina",...) as well as the rest of the sexy female cast are not the only reason to see this film, they are definitely the most convincing one. Bikini-clad babes, Bondish villains and a great, macabre sense of humor - this is what "Deadlier Tan Male" is all about. A promising premise, in my opinion.

While this film is clearly a Bond-knockoff it re-invented a detective character of earlier decades. The character of Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond was popularized in the 20s and 30s and a kind of English pendant to the private eyes in American hard-boiled detective novels and films. I have not seen any of the old Bulldog Drummond films so far, but I sure am going to. The Bulldog Drummond in this film is a very James Bond-ish rich playboy and spy. He is played by Richard Johnson, who was once intended to play the role of Bond in "Dr. No". After several people are killed by sexy female assassins, and by rather unusual methods, Drummond investigates in order to find the one who pulls the strings behind these murders. The film's most ravishing quality are Elke Sommer and Sylva Koschina, who play the constantly quarreling duo of sexy female assassins Irma (Sommer) and Penelope (Koschina). The cast furthermore includes Nigel Green ("The Masque Of The Red Death", "The Face Of Fu Manchu",...), and Milton Reid ("Dr Phibes Rises Again"). The relationship between Bulldog Drummond and his slightly annoying nephew is only remotely funny, but the constant dark humor, especially when people are being assassinated, is hilarious. Overall "Deadlier Than Male" is no must-see, but definitely a highly amusing flick that cult-cinema fans should enjoy.

This splendidly entertaining spoof of spy thrillers, brings back detective Bulldog Drummond (debonairly portrayed by Richard Johnson) to do battle with a megalomaniac villain (elegantly laconic Nigel Green), who uses sultry female assassins (Eurobabes Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina) to do his dirty work. Stylish doses of brutality, sly humor and witty set pieces make this obscure thriller a real winner...a widescreen DVD is due out in May of 2003.

For the most part, this constitutes the best of the myriad James Bond imitations (because it does not deliberately attempt to send up the genre while adhering so closely to the formula – down to the music score, including a title track sung by The Walker Brothers – that I am surprised that franchise's producers did not sue), even if the literary figure that was revived for the purpose actually preceded 007! For the record, I had watched a handful of the run of Drummond 'B' movies from the 1930s with John Howard or Ray Milland, but I also own the quartet of well-regarded initial entries (two starring Ronald Colman and a couple more emanating from Britain).

Interestingly, the star of this one – Richard Johnson – had made an uncredited appearance towards the start of his career in the MGM one-off CALLING BULLDOG DRUMMOND (1951). By the way, throughout his two stabs at the role, the character is never once referred to by that nickname (which, I guess, suggests his resilience) but nor are we ever told just what field the hero operates in (is he a Military Intelligence officer or just another secret agent?)! Incidentally, while he was usually flanked by a flamboyant superior as contact man and a comic butler for sidekick, the former's role is downplayed here and the latter replaced with a youthful relative (but whose girlfriend – played by Virginia North, who would actually turn up in a different role in the sequel and also appear as Vulnavia to Vincent Price's THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES {1971} in the first installment of that particular two-movie series – still prefers the more experienced member of the family!).

Anyway, the protagonist now has an elderly boss (Laurence Naismith) with a secretary (THE PRISONER's Justine Lord) with whom he flirts a' la M and Miss Moneypenny from the Bond series – though Drummond goes one better than his 'prototype' by taking the girl out to dinner and later to his flat! As expected, there are a plethora of attractive ladies and, given the moniker (which obviously bears no relation to a similarly-titled 1957 French melodrama starring Jean Gabin that I also own), some of them even do the dirty work for the villain (who, also typically, hides behind a veneer of respectability). The most notable are Elke Sommer, Sylva Koscina and Suzanna Leigh – the first two make up an interesting and sparring sexy/comic duo (with the former being the spokesperson for Carl Peterson's nefarious machinations and the latter the 'thug' but whose kleptomania ultimately proves the undoing of both!), while the latter is a new (thus uncommitted) recruit who, unsurprisingly, takes up with Drummond at the end. Curiously enough, though the 2 latter-day Drummond adventures were released simultaneously on R2 DVD, the edition I acquired of this one was unfortunately trimmed of some 2 minutes – running only 93 – with an evident cut in the scene where Johnson and Sommer share a room in Peterson's castle and all of a sudden she is in her underwear; this edit is all the more baffling because a split-second nudity by Leigh (or her stand-in) at the climax has been left intact!

The plot is the standard 'bid-for-world-domination-through-economic-monopoly' which sees a great number of people involved: these can basically be divided into associates and victims (sometimes filling the requirements of both) and include Leonard Rossiter, George Pastell, Lee Montague (from the just-viewed THE LEGACY {1978}) and Zia Mohyeddin as the latest millionaire (coincidentally a school chum of the younger Drummond) to be targeted for elimination. Nigel Green, then, makes for a strong nemesis to Johnson (who would also face Harry Palmer and, with Sommer herself in tow, Matt Helm but never Bond!), and it is only in the latter stages that the film treads the camp factor, as Drummond constantly rubs his burly bodyguard-cum-manservant the wrong way so that they eventually engage in a karate fight – the obvious conclusion being that Peterson is much better served by the weaker sex! Hero and villain also conduct a game of chess where the pawns are creepily life-size but also ultimately prove deadly for Peterson himself.

"Irma Eckman" (Elke Sommer) and "Penelope" (Sylva Koscina) are two luscious assassins who work for a criminal mastermind named "Carl Peterson" (Nigen Green) who has them kill certain wealthy businessmen within the oil industry. "Hugh Drummond" (Richard Johnson) is a British secret agent who is investigating a number of these murders which immediately puts him in the cross-hairs of these two beautiful women-and they are very good at their job. Now rather than reveal any more of this film and risk ruining it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this particular movie compares quite favorably with several James Bond films in quality and entertainment value. I especially liked the way in which it used the strengths of the main actors and didn't attempt to weaken the overall effect by indulging in too much comedy like several of its counterparts did during this period with varying degrees of success. In essence it remained focused just enough to render a final product which most James Bond fans will probably enjoy. Above average.

Elke Sommer ( Imma) who is one of the most beautiful actresses ever, and Sylva Koscina ( Penelope) who is not far behind are the two reasons to watch this movie ( far more then Richard Johnson as Bulldog Drummond). Why? Obviously looking at those two ladies is one reason, but If you are a Drummond fan, you know Ronald Colman owns the role and no one ( even Ralph Richardson who was excellent) comes close. Deadlier Then The Male is supposed to be a Drummond movie, but Johnson basically is overshadowed by the ladies (especially Elke), just as John Howard was overshadowed by John Barrymore as Col. Nielsen ( although obviously for different reasons). My biggest problems with the movie was. 1: How the bad ladies were knocked off, 2: The main villain Carl Peterson ( Drummond's arch enemy) was not the least bit menacing ( unlike Montagu Love in the original Colman Drummond or even Francis L. Sullivan in the Return of Bulldog Drummond ( Richardson)). But Elke Sommer is enough to like this film and for her; Sylva and the scenery I give it 7/10 stars.

For some reason they decided to use Bulldog Drummond.but dispense with his characteristics and dispense with Algy. Instead of which we get an anodyne American actor whose main career is in TV.

Nigel Green does not match up to the Bond villains..His two female assassin's are lacking.in style. Their killings are unpleasant especially that of Leonard Rossiter. Fights are poorly staged. Johnson faces up to 2 women with machine guns the film cuts away and then back to Johnson on the floor with them. How?

In every comparison with Bond this is lacking.

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.

In 1967, the Rank Organisation saw fit to revive the pre-war character Bulldog Drummond, updated to Hugh Drummond in this glossy but empty thriller. The first half, despite several murders and some torture scenes, I frankly found boring, although it does improve in the second half when we get to the villain's lair. This is frustrating, because it does have all the ingredients for a good thriller, it's just that they never come together properly. The film just trundles through it's paces without flair or imagination. Really should have been much better.

Several oil executives die in mysterious 'accidents' and each time, an anonymous company is richer by a million pounds. Insurance underwriter Hugh Drummond is called in to investigate. Jimmy Sangster had earlier put Hammer Films on the map by reworking old horror favourites like 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein'. In 1966, he gave Sapper's 'Bulldog Drummond' a Bond make-over. Richard Johnson was well cast; smooth, charming, and sophisticated. The girls are stunningly beautiful, and the film bristles with excitement, invention and good humour. Nigel Green is excellent as Carl Petersen. Some great set-pieces; the underground car park fight is surprisingly violent, while the chessboard finale is straight out of 'The Avengers'. All this plus a cameo by the late, great Leonard Rossiter, and a blinding title song by The Walker Brothers! Wisely, the film doesn't try to compete with the more lavish Bonds such as 'Goldfinger' and 'Thunderball'. Both Drummond films were novelised for Coronet Books by Henry Reymond.

Shockingly cynical all the way, this is a mere entertainment and very superficial as such, on level with normal operating standard of James Bond at his second best, and saved as worth seeing only by sparkling moments of some great sense of humour. Richard Johnson is always good and worth seeing any film with, but Elke Sommer and the others make poor impressions, like mannequins with robot minds, not minding who they kill or why or with any human second thoughts at all. The script is witty with some brilliant twists on the way, but the one James Bond film that this one resembles most is the worst one - "Diamonds are forever".

Saw this one when it was originally released in '67 and immediately fell in love with the curvy assassins. Well typecasted; actors are very believable. One of the few super spy movies that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the James Bond movies.