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Hammerhead (film)

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Wikipedia article




'Hammerhead' is a British Eurospy thriller film directed by David Miller and starring Vince Edwards, Judy Geeson, and Diana Dors.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116082525/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/35649 BFI.org] Its plot concerns a criminal mastermind who attempts to steal NATO secrets, with an American agent hot on his trail. It is based on the 1964 novel by English novelist James Mayo, and produced by Irving Allen and written by Herbert Baker, who made the Matt Helm films for Columbia Pictures. It was filmed in London and Portugal.

Synopsis



British intelligence asks a soldier of fortune, Charles Hood, to go to Portugal and help stop an international criminal mastermind called Hammerhead, who plans to steal a secret report on nuclear defence.

Hood manages to board the yacht owned by Hammerhead, a collector of valuable erotic art. He is distracted along the way by model Sue Trenton and a pair of Hammerhead's mistresses, Ivory and Kit.

Hammerhead intends to kidnap Britain's NATO delegate, Sir Richard Calvert, and replace him with a lookalike, Andreas, a master of disguise. He finds out Hood's identity and traps Sue and him inside a coffin, but they manage to escape. Kit and Andreas both are killed, while Ivory does away with Hammerhead personally, using a harpoon.

Cast



* Vince Edwards ... Charles Hood

* Judy Geeson ... Sue Trenton

* Peter Vaughan ... Hammerhead

* Diana Dors ... Kit

* Michael Bates ... Andreas / Sir Richard

* Beverly Adams ... Ivory

* Patrick Cargill ... Condor

* Patrick Holt ... Huntzinger

* William Mervyn ... Walter Perrin

* Douglas Wilmer ... Pietro Vendriani

* Tracy Reed ... Miss Hull

* Kenneth Cope ... Motorcyclist

* Kathleen Byron ... Lady Calvert

* Jack Woolgar ... Tookey Tate

* Joseph Furst ... Count Ortega

* Andreas Malandrinos ... Post Office Guard

* David Prowse ... George

* Earl Younger ... Brian

* Romo Gorrara ... Marcel

* Maggie Wright ... Roselle

* Veronica Carlson ... Ulla

* Penny Brahms ... Frieda

* Sarah Hardenburg ... Kiki

* Otto Diamant ... Joa

* Windsor Davies ... Police Sergeant

* Arthur Gomez ... Cafe Proprietor

Production



The film was based on a novel by James Mayo published in 1964.Books Today

New York Times 18 Nov 1964: 44.


Film rights were bought by Irving Allen, the producer. Allen had, at one time, been in partnership with Albert Broccoli, who wanted to make movies based on the James Bond books; Allen did not, the partnership ended, and Broccoli had a huge success with the Bond movies. Allen moved into espionage films himself with the Matt Helm series, and he bought the film rights to 'Hammerhead'. In 1967, Allen said: "at this stage I'm only interested in making money. I'm not interested in kudos or getting good reviews - I've had all that. I'm just concerned with getting the greatest number of people into theatres."Allen at Helm of Production

Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 6 July 1967: e14.


In May 1967, Allen said the project was on a slate of seven movies he had with Columbia, others being: 'Cromwell'; 'The Black Frontier'; 'The Wrecking Crew'; 'Savage Canary'; 'The Pocket Venus' and 'The Ambushers'.Fran Jeffries Gets 'Revenge'

Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 25 May 1967: e11.
In June of the same year, Allen announced he had signed David Miller to a three-picture deal, starting with 'Hammerhead', which he would make in London, the following September, from a script by Jack Brierley and Herbert Baker; Allen wanted it to be the first in a series.Psychotic Role for Tuesday

Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 16 June 1967: c13.
After that month, Allen announced he had also signed Vince Edwards to a three-picture contract starting with 'Hammerhead'.Multi-Film Agreement Signed Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 22 June 1967: d9. Edwards described his part as "like Humphrey Bogart in 'The Maltese Falcon'".'Ben Casey' Edwards Is on the Verge of Marriage

Dorothy Manners:. The Washington Post and Times-Herald 20 June 1967: B5.


The original plan was to film in France but this was changed to Portugal.Billy Bishop Story on Film

Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 15 July 1967: 17.
That August, Allen announced Judy Geeson would co-star.Producers Go 'Underground'

Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 5 Aug 1967: 18.


The production of the film was delayed because Columbia contract star Vince Edwards suffered a bone-fracture during the filming in Portugal in 1967.'The Film Daily': Volume 131 1967

Diana Dors had previously appeared in another spy movie, 'Danger Route'.

Reception



The 'Los Angeles Times' called it "overfamiliar and mechanical, a jaded Bond".'Hammerhead' on Citywide Screens

Champlin, Charles. Los Angeles Times 16 Aug 1968: f16.


The film was a box office disappointment and there was no sequel. Quentin Tarantino said he was a "big fan" of the movie, but disliked Vince Edwards' performance, even though he generally enjoyed Edwards as an actor. He felt Robert Culp would have been better casting.

References






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