Deadlier than the Male (1966)

HC ‘Sapper’ McNeile’s debonair adventurer hero “Bulldog” Drummond was updated here to capitalise on the James Bond phenomenon.

Richard Johnson may be a bit stuffy and lack the virile magnetism of Sean Connery’s 007, but nevertheless gives a good account of himself as the bachelor insurance man investigating the untimely ends of a friend and several high rollers.

Drummond, a former soldier and freelance fixer, is hired to investigate a corrupt industrialist and his troublesome cohorts, a pair of deadly female assassins (played with mischievous glee by Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina) whose bickering exchanges and bitchy one-upmanship are a twisted joy.

Johnson and Nigel Green (The Ipcress File) also enjoy some memorable verbal sparring amid the surprisingly vivid violence and less surprising casual sexism.

Originally a hit spy series in print and on film during the 1920s and 1930s, Drummond was revived in the wake of the success of the James Bond series, for this and a further ‘60s escapade, Some Girls Do.

The Walker Brothers‘ title song and Euro locations lend proceedings a touch of class, adding to the appeal of what so easily could have been just another contrived spy yarn.

Hugh ‘Bulldog’ Drummond
Richard Johnson
Irma Eckman
Elke Sommer
Penelope
Sylva Koscina
Carl Petersen
Nigel Green
Grace
Suzanna Leigh
Robert Drummond
Steve Carlson
Miss Ashenden
Justine Lord
King Fedra
Zia Mohyeddin
Boxer
Lee Montague
Mitsouko
Yasuko Nagazumi
Sir John Bledlow
Laurence Naismith
Carloggio
George Pastell
Chang
Milton Reid
Bridgenorth
Leonard Rossiter
Brenda
Virginia North
Anna
Didi Sydow
Keller
Dervis Ward
Wyngarde
John Stone

Director
Ralph Thomas