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Saturday, November 21, 2020

ffolkes (aka NORTH SEA HIJACK) / 1980

Right in the midst of his improbably long run as a Teflon James Bond*, Roger Moore made a trio of equally improbable action-adventure films with fading, if still deal-worthy stars under the execrable Andrew V. McLaglen, a director who makes the term ‘Hollywood pro’ pure pejorative.  Son of John Ford regular Victor McLaglen, Andrew made many under-par/over-performing late John Wayne Western (though he claimed to loath the genre) and could always be counted on for coarseness, desperation ‘post-production editing, and an unmotivated donnybrook or two when the narrative stalled.  Good for small change at Stateside box-offices, these impossible missions worked better in international markets.  This one also steered clear of the WWII heroics found in the other two, instead offering a straightforward ransom drama with Anthony Perkins & Michael Parks (plus five) as bad guys threatening to blow up three huge ocean-based oil rigs unless the British government comes up with millions.  Enter eccentric anti-terrorist mercenary fflokes (no capitalization, please) and his Seal Team gang of indistinguishable underwater warriors.  Laughs & thrills few and far between, but it is the shortest of the three should you wish to try one.  (Moore also takes top-billing here which is somehow less depressing then seeing Richard Burton in THE WILD GEESE/’78 and Gregory Peck in THE SEA WOLVES/’80 stoop to get first-billing.)

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT: While Greg Peck’s THE GUNS OF NAVARONE/’61 (a bit stiff, but largely holding up) is the obvious template for these three Moore/McLaglen pics; Burton’s copycat WHERE EAGLES DARE/’68, with Clint Eastwood, if overextended, is unlikely suspenseful fun.

ATENTION MUST BE PAID: *Those Bond Babes are only in the poster.  No doubt there to shanghai a few male fannies into seats.

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