This past week I moonlighted on Beth Accomando’s CINEMA JUNKIE podcast to discuss Not James Bond spy movies that serve as necessary escapism during our current moment of Quarantine Life. I show up and prattle on about some of my favorite spy movies and Beth does a masterful job of putting together the juicy bits of my ramblings into a coherent 45-minute segment with loads of wonderful clips.
On this episode I’ll champion everything from Top Secret! to Special Mission Lady Chaplin because I will never fail to bring up Ken Clark’s finest 90 minutes.
Japanese poster artwork for Special Mission Lady Chaplin (1966)
When she’s not talking to me, Beth hosts the most wonderful guests and you should (if you already haven’t) subscribe to CINEMA JUNKIE and add it to your roster of regular podcasts.
Of course, if you can’t get your fill of me on Cinema Junkie, you can always hear me at my regular gigs hosting the #Bond_age_Pod and the Cinema Shame podcast.
Week 2 of the ‘Year of the Spy – 1966’ Retrospective presents the comic Eurospy film Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die from directors Henry Levin and Arduino Maiuri. The film stars Mike Connors (Mannix), Dorothy Provine (It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) and Terry-Thomas (Danger: Diabolik for one relevant reference). You also won’t be able to miss Margaret Lee (who starred in more than her share of Eurospy films) and Beverly Adams (who recently appeared in the #Bond_age_ live tweet of The Silencers). It’s a significant roll call of familiar faces that’ll surely send you to investigate a few IMDb profiles.
Of particular interest to Bond fans is the ways in which Moonraker seems to have borrowed specific elements from KTGAMTD. I wish I could have found a better presentation of the film. Photographed by Aldo Tonti (Nights of Cabiria), KTGAMTD should be treated with a little more respect than, well… none at all. Sure it’s a comedy, but it looks pretty good for a silly little B-picture on an A- budget.
9pm ET – Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (#Bond_age_)
“It’s amazing what a decent budget will do for a film. Most of the Eurospy flicks made in the sixties were shot on miscule budgets, so it’s a pleasant experience to watch one with a modicum of financial class. KTGAMTD is a tongue-in-cheek Bondian adventure that rivals the official product in all departments.”
-Troy Howart, The Eurospy Guide
‘Year of the Spy – 1966’ – Week 2:
KISS THE GIRLS AND MAKE THEM DIE
I don’t know if its an indictment or high praise that I’ve had the 1966 Eurospy comedy Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die on the #Bond_age_ schedule on at least three different occasions before changing plans at the last minute. On one hand I’ve always postponed it in favor of something else… on the other, I’ve refused to give the dream of one day live-tweeting it.
When I decided to embark on this ‘Year of the Spy’ Live Tweet Retrospective, I knew I finally had that ironclad reason to carry on with the KTGAMTD live tweet. Not only is it the only Eurospy film to challenge TMWTGG for the most unwieldy Twitter acronym, but it’s also one of the few to rival that film’s appreciation of the absurd.
This Dino De Laurentiis production boasts a top notch cast and photography courtesy of the acclaimed Aldo Tonti (Nights of Cabiria). Unfortunately, the film’s availability (or lack thereof) means that we’re not exactly gifted a brilliant source for our viewing. I’ve done my best.
Mike Connors stars as Kelly, CIA agent 409. He strikes a solid pose in a tuxedo and has above average comic timing. 409 teams up with a Susan Fleming (Dorothy Provine) and her “chauffer” James (Terry-Thomas!).
It’s a familiar refrain you’ll hear over the course of this retrospective, but nobody cares about the narrative logic. Nor should you. Raf Villone’s dastardly villain aims to sterilize the entire population of the United States (and eventually the world!). Armed with wit, a collection of gadgets and a killer Rolls Royce, our heroes attempt to prevent the world from shooting blanks.
Join us Wednesday, October 5th @ 9pm ET for the #Bond_age_ live tweet of KISS THE GIRLS AND MAKE THEM DIE! Follow the #Bond_age_ hashtag.
