Deadlier Than The Male [DVD]

Originally released in November 1966, Deadlier Than The Male stars Richard Johnson as Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond. This is a very good 2.35:1 aspect ratio presentation of the film and I did not notice any problem with the blu ray transfer whatsoever. This could have been because I was enjoying this fantastic film and was distracted by the wonderful Elke Sommer. Soecial Features are Original Theatrical Traiker in HD, Exclusive Image Galleries in HD, Promotional Materials PDFs, Archive Interviews and Location Reports (black and white footage). Good price too. 2.35:1, Mono, Region B, English Subtitles (on the film only), 98 minutes runtime, Mono sound, 24 fps

German Blu-ray Release: Deadlier Than The Male (Heisse Katzen) -Mediabook. Limited Edition. The UK releases are from the precut BBFC approved cinema print, missing the torture/torment of the Drummond youth by Penelope. The previous german dvd releases had a scene of dialogue & Drummond unzipping Elke Sommer from her dress trimmed, which was a tad clunky. So these aspects are worth considering. This current mediabook presentation has some decent array of extras, all english friendly as far as i can recall, as well as the uncut 98 minute film. The english audio can be chosen easily, with german subtitles switched off for those not germanic. The booklet is substantial but this is in german of course. Overall a crisp, vibrant print fully uncut as far as i can see. Tad expensive by comparison. The torture is kinda mild compared to any modern work even on tv but it does give the characters a bit more potency here and it's worth seeing the film as uncut as possible. Worthwhile for a bouncy bond flavoured run around, certainly better than it's sequel, great theme song, oodles of femmes that are simply delish. Leave your cynicism at the door. This was meant to be fun...

Moderately enjoyable Sixties nonsense. Bulldog Drummond is not even the poor man's James Bond, but the thanatic ladies referred to in the title are worth watching. Cheesy one-liners are interspersed throughout - a particularly strong whiff of danish blue accompanies the demise of Leonard Rossiter. The first two-thirds of the film are set in London with lots of period detail and sixties furnishings, featuring some remarkably chunky cigarette lighters.

Don't miss this one - it's a thoroughly entertaining tongue in cheek espionage thriller with many of the thrills in the shape of beautifully un-clad females that are also quite deadly. I think it's based on the old Bull dog drummond who is in the shape of a perfect uncle who has an electric mind, who is an expert at everything, and can fight his way out of any situation - but in a complete old style Englishman way. His nephew is the slightly naive would be assistant who tags along and ends up getting hopelessly involved. I won't say any more in case it spoils it for you. If you like escapist spoof spy films, you will love this one - don't miss it.

Quirky 1960s `Bond` style spy thriller. It`s not a patch on a Connery Bond picture but very entertaining romp none the less. Surprisingly violent for the time in which this was made it was issued an `X` certificate (18) but quite mild now by modern standards. The late Richard Johnson is at his suave best in this adventure and overall the film has very good production values. The picture quality on this Blu-ray is outstanding for a film made 50 years ago and the soundtrack whilst mono still packs quite a punch. If you enjoy 60s films in general and spy thrillers in particular I`m sure this film will not disappoint.

A favorite detective style film I loved the movie right away Photography is not that special for a period But the cars are dressed in landscapes In the great game rule what else can you ask for a few pounds Thank you very much to Amazon

I was going to return this item..instead I placed an order for the dvd version as well because I am hoping this will be of better quality. Every so often a manufacterer will churn out what they believe is a blu ray quality version of a movie and this is one of those disappointing efforts. It plays like someone has masked the movie over with an oil painting effect. The edging is smoothed rather than sharp. I'm sure the dvd version will put this to shame..either way I kind of have little faith in Network's blu ray rendering skills. This was a rushed job and does not do this film justice. All spy movies of that decade should be crystal!

Film: 7/10 Picture quality 7,5/10 Aspect ratio: 2,35:1 orig. (= 16x9 letterbox) Audio: Engl. ST: Engl. o/- Studio: Network ...looking for more Euro Bond-spin-offs? Might try one of these: - That Man in Istanbul; E/I/F 1965 (feat. Horst Buchholz + Sylva Koscina; movie: 6,5/10) -> Spanish release: vella video DVD # 12058; 1 min cut! - Rembrandt 7 antwortet nicht; D/I/E 1966 (5/10) Rembrandt 7 antwortet nicht [DVD] (2006) Joachim Hansen, Christiane Maybach - Der Mann mit den tausend Masken; D/I 1966 ...as clunky as it gets!! (5,5/10; Der Mann mit den tausend Masken (Filmjuwelen) (DVD) feat. soon-to-be Bond- + Hitch- Girl Karin Dor (You Only Live Twice 1967; Topaz 1969) - Jerry Cotton: Der Tod im roten Jaguar; D/I 1968 (feat. George Nader 5/10) - Mission for a Killer (aka Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117); F/I 1965 (5.5/10) +++ UPDATE: French-released Blu-ray available from amazon.fr +++ - How to Destroy the Reputation of the Greatest Secret Agent... (aka 'Le magnifique'); F/I 1973 (feat. J.-P. Belmondo + Jaqueline Bisset 6,5/10) Le Magnifique ( Come si distrugge la reputazione del più grande agente (The Magnificient Secret Agent) ) ( How to Destroy the Reputation of the Greatest Secret Agent ) +++ UPDATE: French-released 'Le Magnifique'- Blu-ray available from amazon.fr +++

À voir absolument

Definitely watch "Deadlier Than the Male." You'll be in for a real treat. But if you want to own a copy, save your money, and hold out for/demand a superior-quality disc that this film very much deserves. Here's why: FIVE STARS for an delightfully deft, light, and deceptively clever romp - a thinking man's/woman's take-off on the iconic Bond series. This inventive, stylishly playful satire features the distinguished, classically-trained, brilliantly versatile Richard Johnson* in the lead. Johnson portrays Drummond effortlessly: with debonaire, masculine charm, sexy intelligence, and perfectly wry humor. His Drummond is sophisticated but sporty, classy but not stuffy, and exudes a charismatic charge/threat that's understated but in no way effete. Not unlike Bond, he moves (and thinks) with sharp, cool grace. But unlike Bond's animalistic, devil-may-care image, Johnson's Drummond has just the right stroke of irony and warmth to keep him interesting. Then there's Nigel Green as a Brit baddie who's more credibly calculating than cartoonish. And Elke Sommer and Sylvia Koscina play the psychopathic sirens who wield their harpoons as perfectly (and lusciously) as their comic timing! Plus, the relationship between Drummond and his (U.S. American) nephew is refreshing, something rarely seen in movies - a central element that grounds the movie's hijinks (and certain moments of legitimately disturbing violence by the duo of female assassins) with a human, but no less humorous, touch. Then there's Zia Mohyeddin as a young oil heir, and Lee Montague as an erstwhile con-man gone clean, who give brief but memorably likable portrayals against stale stereotype. Convincing, smart, fun performances all around - and the same for the movie's script and direction. And what's a Bond-style caper without some martial arts, right? In this one, Drummond first appears on screen practicing judo, then karate throughout. But, at one point, he also slips in a clever move that's rarely seen in mainstream Western movies - voila! What fun it might have been, then, to see Johnson's Drummond and Elke Sommer's psycho-killer-vixen go at it, martial-arts style, one-on-one! As other reviewers have already noted, this movie is a welcome pleasure of 1960s fun. But it's impressive precisely because its style enhances, rather than diminishes, its approach. As a result, it achieves the incredible: it doesn't feel dated. To that end, it certainly helps that "Deadlier" is more on the lines of credible fantasy-entertainment, versus cheesy, over-the-top, gatchet-ladden ridiculousness. And its sexy (but not sexist), light-brush treatment is consistent throughout. Delightfully, the movie doesn't take itself seriously, yet in its most unflashy moments, it quietly does (when and where it most counts). These elements make "Deadlier" strikingly appealing, and it shows. It's stood the test of time, and gets even better with age. All in all, a bona fide cult classic. A real winner! However... ONLY HALF A STAR FOR THE BAD QUALITY OF THIS DVD (by Hen's Tooth Video). I've seen a clean, pristine, digital print of this movie elsewhere. Because of that comparison, I can say that this DVD is not up to standard, and certainly not acceptable for the price of $20. The color is badly off (example: flesh tones are red). The picture resolution is grainy, like a bootleg copy of a bad print. The picture contrast is too strong (example: where color details should be clear, you instead see vague/shadowy/silhouette darkness). The main menu even smacks of a cheap, bootleg product. No special features on the disc, either. Evidently, no care was taken in the digital transfer of this film to disc, which is a real shame. Because this is one of those truly rare gems of pop-culture cinema: a stylish yet intelligent, classy, and thoroughly unpretentious pleasure to watch. It not only offers a sly interpretation of the Bond 'mythos' and 'mystique', but stands entirely on its own merits. (I agree with other positive reviews here that "Deadlier" is even better than many of the Bond movies.) For these reasons, this movie is not only of its time, but still delivers nearly 50 years later. And is far superior to most of the pablum and swill that pass for movie entertainment (or 'actors') today. (I wish the same could be said of this movie's sequel, "Some Girls Do," which is outright dreadful, and painfully dated in ways that "Deadlier" successfully avoids.) * Johnson is a true actor's actor - one of jaw-dropping dexterity and range, unusually thoughtful intelligence, and exceptional nuance and restraint. Devoted to his craft, his performances are marked by naturalness over histrionics or hollow mechanics, grandstanding ego, or pretense. Over a phenomenally impressive 70-year career, to date, he has remained more interested in a passionate yet humble fidelity to the diverse, interesting, often intriguing characters he portrays (and the variety of projects he feels fortunate to be a part of) rather than in stardom or fame. From Shakespeare on stage, to classic Greek tragedies and period pieces, to cult horror and independent/foreign films, he's racked up a dizzyingly wide array of roles. His gifts are in a very elite class, yet few in the U.S. are familiar with him or his lesser-known roles. (He's mostly known for his role in the psychological horror classic "The Haunting." That is, the original 1963 version directed by Robert Wise.) Very, very few actors come anywhere close to Johnson's incredibly nimble, distinctive talent. If you appreciate subtlety, depth, and keen intelligence, seek out his most interesting other work. You'll be blown away. For those who don't know the history of the Bond franchise, Richard Johnson was, according to various sources, among the choices (if not the first choice) of Terence Young, the director of "Dr. No," to assume the role of Bond. To this viewer, Johnson was the most convincing, compelling 'Bond-who-almost-was'. And I say this as a fan of Connery's Bond (who's suave yet brutally dangerous and sociopathic - as real spies tend to be). Johnson himself has been gracious in openly acknowledging, without regret, that Connery ultimately was the right (and rightly subversive) choice to play the part and for the good of the franchise at its start. The fun for this viewer is in appreciating the distinct contrasts between Johnson's Drummond and Connery's Bond on screen, relative to how author Ian Fleming originally conceived the Bond character, and how various directors, screenwriters, and other actors have presented the Bond image differently and at its best.

"Deadlier Than the Male" certainly copies the James Bond movie formula--and star Richard Johnson, reputedly once considered for the role, looks like a cross between Sean Connery and Martin Landau. Ultimately, the film lacks enough stylish excitement to be a true Bond contender, though its jazzy score and myriad locations are on par with many 1960s adventures. It may even remind some viewers a bit visually of Alfred Hitchcock's 1955 film, "To Catch a Thief." Johnson plays Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond, a well-tailored investigator who drives an expensive car, lives in a swinging but upscale London flat, and beds every woman he's interested in. If that sounds like Bond, the resemblance is understandable; Ian Fleming was likely inspired by the fictional Bulldog Drummond mysteries that preceded the Bond books. His quarry here is a two-woman assassination squad (luscious Elke Sommer and kooky Sylva Koscina) that is brutally knocking off contenders for a multi-million-dollar oil deal. Who is really behind the shady goings-on probably won't surprise you, but some of the kinky violence might, even if much here is tame by contemporary standards and already familiar to "The Avengers" fans. "Deadlier Than the Male" works best when it lets the assassins be cold-blooded and Johnson relax and be naturally smooth (as he was in "The Haunting" and numerous other films); it breaks down with its frequently desert-dry, sometimes racist humor and often lethargic, oddly-edited action sequences. Though a climax on a human-sized chessboard is visually impressive, trying to make complete sense of how and why the characters react to it might challenge you. Perhaps the biggest flaw, though, is that despite being suave and handsome, Johnson fails to bring sparks to the romantic scenes; as a female friend told me, "Now I see why he didn't get Bond."

Lite 60"s farce with a nod to Bond. Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina look great and should have been Bond babes. Dvd quality is good, but why the high price? Should be in the $14.99 range. O.K. diversion if you don"t mind the high price.

Claims are this is a great James Bond spoof. Not much played for laughs here at all. It's pretty much a straight spy flick only more industrial espionage than an evil genius trying to topple governments. Although Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina are smokin' hot '60s babes in this, they are not in the movie enough. Most of the story is just plain silly especially the voice command computer controlled gigantic chess board. Personally, I think the Flint movies were better and even they don't date super well. The DVD is just the movie by the way--no extras at all.