Condorman (1981)

Picture James Bond, slightly geekier and wearing a winged condor suit. Got it? Then you’re ready for Condorman, a goofy action/comedy from Disney starring the world’s most unlikely superheroic secret agent.

Comic book writer/artist Woody Wilkins (Michael Crawford) refuses to put anything into his Condorman comic that he can’t actually do himself  – the movie opens with Woody swooping clumsily from the Eiffel Tower in his Condorman outfit – making him a hero to boys everywhere.

Taking a needed break from the grind, Woody visits CIA buddy Harry Oslo (James Hampton) in Paris, but a mix-up gets the hapless comics man caught in a web of international intrigue.

Woody accidentally saves defecting KGB vixen Natalia (Barbara Carrera) – codenamed “The Bear” – from the hands of villainous agents, and she subsequently insists that only he be allowed to help her defect.

Woody agrees, but only if the CIA equips him with all the fancy gadgetry and vehicles he’s dreamed up for Condorman.

Woody gets his wish, scoring not only a flashy Condorman flying suit, but also a speedy sports car, a machine gun walking stick, and more.

Now working as the real Condorman, Woody fights off Natalia’s ex-boyfriend and KGB baddie Krokov (Oliver Reed) on an action-packed chase across the continent.

During filming, Reed apparently threw his tuxedo out of his hotel window and into the sea in Monte Carlo after a night of heavy drinking.

The next morning, a production assistant had to row out onto the Mediterranean to retrieve the costume and avoid extra production costs.

A scene featuring Barbara Carrera also caused a stir. Reed was convinced that the inexperienced actress could not convincingly portray genuine fear.

During a helicopter scene, he therefore abruptly opened the door and jokingly threatened to throw her out.

Once the camera had captured the look of terror on Carrera’s face, he pulled her back into the cabin. Her spontaneous reaction – an elbow to Reed – is clearly visible in the finished film.

Michael Crawford, who attained fame as the hapless Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, went on to play the title role in Phantom of the Opera.

Condorman disappointed at the box office and left circulation for years, but a collector’s edition video and DVD were released in early 1999, bringing a nostalgic smile to fans of nutty superhero flicks.

Woody Wilkins
Michael Crawford
Krokov
Oliver Reed
Natalia
Barbara Carrera
Harry Oslo
James Hampton
Russ Devlin
Dana Elcar
Morovich
Jean-Pierre Kalfon
Russian Agent
Vernon Dobtcheff
CIA Chief
Robert Arden