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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