A Man Called Dagger
Encyclopedia
A Man Called Dagger is a low-budget spy film
that was the first collaboration between director Richard Rush
, cinematographer László Kovács
and stuntman Gary Warner Kent (who also did the film's special effects).
It was filmed in 1966 by Lew Horwitz's Global Screen Associates (GSA) under the title Why Spy?. The film was originally intended to have been released by Mike Ripps' Cinema Distributors of America (CDA) in September 1966. When GSA and CDA's partnership collpased, the film was picked up by MGM and released a year later.
composed the film's score with Ronald Stein
arranging and conducting it. Maureen Arthur sang Buddy Kaye's lyrics to Steve Allen's title song for the film.
whose fur was dyed to match Miss Langdon's hair in the film. When she toured with the dog, people thought the fur colouring was hurting the dog. As a result the dog's scenes were cut. She also recalled scenes of people hanging on meat hooks that was cut.
Spy film
The spy film genre deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way or as a basis for fantasy . Many novels in the spy fiction genre have been adapted as films, including works by John Buchan, John Le Carré, Ian Fleming and Len Deighton...
that was the first collaboration between director Richard Rush
Richard Rush (director)
Richard Rush is an American movie director, scriptwriter, and producer. He is best known for the Oscar-nominated The Stunt Man. His other works, however, have been less celebrated. The next best-known of his movies is Color of Night — also nominated, but in this case for the Golden Raspberry Award...
, cinematographer László Kovács
László Kovács (cinematographer)
László Kovács, A.S.C. was a Hungarian cinematographer who was influential in the development of American New Wave films. Most famous for his award-winning work on Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces, Kovács was the recipient of numerous awards, including three Lifetime Achievement Awards...
and stuntman Gary Warner Kent (who also did the film's special effects).
It was filmed in 1966 by Lew Horwitz's Global Screen Associates (GSA) under the title Why Spy?. The film was originally intended to have been released by Mike Ripps' Cinema Distributors of America (CDA) in September 1966. When GSA and CDA's partnership collpased, the film was picked up by MGM and released a year later.
Plot
Secret Agents Dick Dagger and Harper Davis are on the trail of former SS Colonel Rudolph Koffman using a meat packing plant as his secret lair.Cast
- Paul ManteePaul ManteePaul Mantee is an American film and television actor.Mantee was born Paul Marianetti in San Francisco, California...
as Dick Dagger - Jan MurrayJan MurrayJan Murray was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host who made his name on the Borscht Belt.-Early life:Murray was born Murray Janofsky in The Bronx, New York City...
as Rudolph Koffman - Terry MooreTerry Moore (actress)Helen Luella Koford , better known as Terry Moore, is an American actress. Terry Moore made her film debut at age 11 and grew up with all the icons of the Hollywood era that made Hollywood what it is today, also known as "The Golden Age of Hollywood". Moore is an Academy Award nominated actress...
as Harper Davis - Maureen ArthurMaureen ArthurMaureen Arthur is an American actress.Arthur appeared in numerous movies and television programs from the late 1950s through the early 1990s as well as on Broadway....
as Ingrid - Richard KielRichard KielRichard Dawson Kiel is an American actor best known for his role as the steel-toothed Jaws in the James Bond movies The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker as well as the video game Everything or Nothing, and Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore...
as Otto - Eileen O'Neill as Erica
- Sue Ane LangdonSue Ane LangdonSue Ane Langdon is a retired American actress.She began her performing career singing at Radio City Music Hall and acting in stage productions. In the mid-1960s she acted at Manhattan's Schubert Theatre in The Apple Tree musical, which starred a young Alan Alda...
- Bruno VeSota as Dr. Grulik
- Mimi Dillard as Melissa
- Leonard StoneLeonard StoneLeonard Stone was an American character actor who played supporting roles in over 120 television shows and 35 films.-Life and career:...
as Karl Rainer
Score
Steve AllenSteve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
composed the film's score with Ronald Stein
Ronald Stein
Ronald Stein was an American film composer.-Biography:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Stein wrote scores for numerous low budget horror and exploitation films during the 1950s and 1960s, many of which were released by American International Pictures...
arranging and conducting it. Maureen Arthur sang Buddy Kaye's lyrics to Steve Allen's title song for the film.
Deleted scenes
Sue Ane Langdon recalled two scenes that did not make the final print. One was a West Highland White TerrierWest Highland White Terrier
The West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as the Westie, is a Scottish breed of dog with a distinctive white coat. The modern breed is descended from a number of breeding programes of white terriers in Scotland prior to the 20th century...
whose fur was dyed to match Miss Langdon's hair in the film. When she toured with the dog, people thought the fur colouring was hurting the dog. As a result the dog's scenes were cut. She also recalled scenes of people hanging on meat hooks that was cut.