Banco à Bangkok pour OSS 117
Encyclopedia
Banco à Bangkok pour OSS 117 released in the USA as Shadow of Evil is a 1964 French Eurospy spy-fi
film. It was based on Jean Bruce
's 1960 novel Lila de Calcutta, the 74th OSS 117 novel. It was the second OSS 117
film directed by André Hunebelle
and produced by Paul Cadéac, the first in the series in colour, the first co-produced by the Italian company Da.Ma. Cinematografica and the last to star Kerwin Matthews as OSS 117.
The film was shot on Thai locations and featured action scenes arranged by Hunebelle's stunt coordinator
Claude Carliez
with production design by René Moulaert.
Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath (Kerwin Mathews
) is sent to Thailand following the murder of OSS agent Christopher Lemmon. Lemmon had been investigating the break out of plague epidemics in India following health workers inoculating the locals to protect them from cholera
. Lemmon had discovered that the medicine made in Hogby Laboratries in Bangkok
had been switched with plague germs infecting the population with fatal results.
After surviving several assassination attempts, OSS 117 infiltrates the secret lair of Dr. Sinn (Robert Hossein
), an Indian hypnotist and psychologist with the help of his sister Lila (Pier Angeli
). Dr Sinn is the cape wearing supervillain
and mastermind mad scientist
of a Malthusian
organisation known as the "People Elect". The "People Elect" (inoculated by Dr Sinn for immunity) desire to spread plague around the world to reduce the Earth's population and stop atomic testing that is ruining the planet.
Spy-fi
-Definition and characteristics:It often uses a secret agent or superspy whose mission is a showcase of science fiction elements such as technology and ideas used for extortion, plots for world domination or world destruction, futuristic weapons, gadgets and fast vehicles that can travel on land,...
film. It was based on Jean Bruce
Jean Bruce
Jean Bruce born Jean Brochet on 22 March 1921 was a prolific French popular writer who died in 26 March 1963 in a car accident. He also wrote under the pseudonyms of Jean Alexandre, Jean Alexandre Brochet, Jean-Martin Rouan, and Joyce Lindsay....
's 1960 novel Lila de Calcutta, the 74th OSS 117 novel. It was the second OSS 117
OSS 117
OSS 117 is the codename for Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, a fictional secret agent initially from the pen of the prolific Jean Bruce. Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath is described as being an American Colonel from Louisiana of French descent...
film directed by André Hunebelle
André Hunebelle
André Hunebelle was a French director born September 1, 1896 in Meudon , died 27 November 1985 in Nice .Hunebelle was a former publisher of a French newspaper called La Fleché...
and produced by Paul Cadéac, the first in the series in colour, the first co-produced by the Italian company Da.Ma. Cinematografica and the last to star Kerwin Matthews as OSS 117.
The film was shot on Thai locations and featured action scenes arranged by Hunebelle's stunt coordinator
Stunt coordinator
A stunt coordinator, usually an experienced stunt performer, is hired by a TV, film or theatre director or production company to arrange the casting and performance of stunts for a film, television programme or a live audience...
Claude Carliez
Claude Carliez
Claude Carliez is a French master at arms in classical fencing who became a period and fencing advisor to French films. He graduated to a stunt performer, stunt coordinator, special effects person and film director. He worked with such legends of the French cinema as Jean Marais, Louis de Funes,...
with production design by René Moulaert.
Plot
Secret Agent OSS 117, ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath (Kerwin Mathews
Kerwin Mathews
Kerwin Mathews was an American actor best known for playing the titular heroes in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad , The Three Worlds of Gulliver and Jack the Giant Killer .-Life and career:...
) is sent to Thailand following the murder of OSS agent Christopher Lemmon. Lemmon had been investigating the break out of plague epidemics in India following health workers inoculating the locals to protect them from cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. Lemmon had discovered that the medicine made in Hogby Laboratries in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
had been switched with plague germs infecting the population with fatal results.
After surviving several assassination attempts, OSS 117 infiltrates the secret lair of Dr. Sinn (Robert Hossein
Robert Hossein
Robert Hossein is a French film actor of Azeri origin, director and writer. He directed the 1982 adaption of Les Misérables, and appeared in Vice and Virtue, Le Casse, Les Uns et les Autres and Venus Beauty Institute...
), an Indian hypnotist and psychologist with the help of his sister Lila (Pier Angeli
Pier Angeli
Pier Angeli was an Italian-born television and film actress. Her American cinematographic debut was in the starring role of the 1951 film Teresa, in which she won a Golden Globe Award...
). Dr Sinn is the cape wearing supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
and mastermind mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
of a Malthusian
Malthusianism
Malthusianism refers primarily to ideas derived from the political/economic thought of Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus, as laid out initially in his 1798 writings, An Essay on the Principle of Population, which describes how unchecked population growth is exponential while the growth of the food...
organisation known as the "People Elect". The "People Elect" (inoculated by Dr Sinn for immunity) desire to spread plague around the world to reduce the Earth's population and stop atomic testing that is ruining the planet.
OSS 117 films
- Preceded by OSS 117 se déchaine
- Followed by Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117 is a 1965 French Eurospy spy-fi film. It was the third OSS 117 film directed by André Hunebelle and produced by Paul Cadéac...
/OSS 117-Mission for a Killer (1965)
External links
- original French film trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tycLRoQtpbg