Amazon.com essential video

Dry as ice, dripping with deadpan witticisms, only Sean Connery's Bond would dare disparage the Beatles, that other 1964 phenomenon. No one but Connery can believably seduce women so effortlessly, kill with almost as much ease, and then pull another bottle of Dom Perignon '53 out of the fridge. Goldfinger contains many of the most memorable scenes in the Bond series: gorgeous Shirley Eaton (as Jill Masterson) coated in gold paint by evil Auric Goldfinger and deposited in Bond's bed; silent Oddjob, flipping a razor-sharp derby like a Frisbee to sever heads; our hero spread-eagle on a table while a laser beam moves threateningly toward his crotch. Honor Blackman's Pussy Galore is the prototype for the series' rash of man-hating supermodels. And Desmond Llewelyn reprises his role as Q, giving Bond what is still his most impressive car, a snazzy little number that fires off smoke screens, punctures the tires of vehicles on the chase, and boasts a handy ejector seat. Goldfinger's two climaxes, inside Fort Knox and aboard a private plane, have to be seen to be believed. --Raphael Shargel ... Read more

Reviews (184)

IMHO, 60's Bond was the best...
I was born in the 70's and grew up in the 80's and 90's so one would think I would prefer Roger Moore or maybe Dalton or Brosnan. But when I think Bond/007, I only think of Sean Connery and the films from the 60's. I guess it's because the decade was perfect for the character(sexism/persona/fashion), the look and feel(tux/bowler hat/suave sophistication/martini in hand/cig. in mouth/exotic locales), and the music(twangy guitar theme/big brassy numbers). And GOLDFINGER was arguably the definitive representation of all this:

*Shirley Bassey's great rendition of the title song.
*the classic Aston-Martin DB5 with all the gadgets.
*the strong female lead with that name: Pussy Galore!
*one of the coolest and most beloved henchman/sidekicks in the series: Odd Job(love the grin and hat).
*one of the most ambitious, greedy, resourceful villains ever(well played by Gert Frobe-hard to believe he was dubbed in the movie as the audio commentary pointed out).
*classic scenes like Shirley Eaton covered in gold, the "laser beam" scene, the rumpus room, and the end fight.
*good plotline, and good plot to break in to Fort Knox...with a slight twist(love the scene where 007 is figuring out the plot and Goldfinger seems genuinely pleased that someone recognizes his 'genius')
*ok, so Kentucky ain't too exotic(unless you're from Switzerland I guess), but the Swiss Alps and inside a 'pretend' Fort Knox? You don't see that everyday.

All great stuff. The other guys had some good movies in their reign as Bond, but I think Connery was on a roll with From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball. There was so much style and a special aura that defined what Bond/spy/adventure films should be during that 3-film stint. And after all the praise I have for Goldfinger(just recently got the dvd), for the record, it's not even my all-time favorite. That belongs to THUNDERBALL: #1, Largo with the eye patch, the Spectre organization, Claudine Auger in shades on the beach, the jet pack, the underwater fight, etc....oh man. Sorry, back to Goldfinger. Buy the dvd, lots of great extras(2 commentaries, 2 documentaries, etc). If you're a fan, you're not reading this cause you own it. But to non-fans, the film alone is worth the absurdly low price and the loads of extras are what every dvd collector would want. Highly recommended for anyone.

The golden Bond film
The best Bond film? You bet. Sean Connery's Goldfinger is an awesome combination of everything a Bond film needs. Connery gives the best performance of any Bond film, and Honor Blackman is one of the best girls (and certainly the most famous) in the series. Gert Frobe is an outstanding villain, and Oddjob is the definitive henchman. Blackman is supported by two other great girls in the Masterson sisters. Q gives OO7 his best car (followed by the Lotus in TSWLM, the Mustang in Diamonds, and the BMW in TND) featuring machine guns, smokescreen, tire puncturers, and even an ejector seat. Bond also receives a tracking device from Q. The car chase is excellent, and the climax is one of the best at Fort Knox. Script is filled with witty lines, and the story is almost unmatched (Goldfinger will contaminate the gold supply in Fort Knox to greatly increase the amount of his own horde). Locations run from Flordia to Switzerland to Kentucky. Shirley Bassey's title song is great indeed, and Barry's score is in his top five for Bond films. The feel is superb, and everything cultimates together to make this the best OO7 film ever.

The great James in his best
In the the third film of this Bond series this may well be his favorite : (for me it's the best) there are enough reasons to hold this statement.
Harold Sakata is the most hated villain in any Bond picture, the maquiavelian mind and overwhelming presence of Auric Goldfinger , the unforgettable swiss landscapes , the girls Honor Blackman who is two steps behind of Daniela Bianchi (From Russia with love) and Claudine Auger (Thunderball) in what beauty concerns , the laser sequence , the poker game , the fine and suggestive dialogues , the ambush in the hall , the battle in Fort Knox and that hair raising final combat in the airplane, the dazzling direction of Guy Hamilton and the spectacular Aston Martin.
What else do you need for watching by the first time this one or remind it in case you saw before as a timeless cult movie ?
And please beware of any other hat in the head of someone like Odd Job.

The best achievement of the Bond series
This film is a winner in all the sense of the word. May be you won't find the advanced special effects of this age. But who really cares?
Watch for the admirable lot of golden situations; the suggestive sequence in which we laugh when James compare the champaign with the Beatles, for instance in a double sense joke, the unforgettable swiss landscapes, the eternally beauty of Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, the presence of Harold Sakata the most hated villain in any Bond film, the powerful balance given by Grett Frobe as Auric Goldfinger the maquiavelian and perverse mind of Spectre, the notorius ambush in the hall , the final battle in Fort Knox and that unforgettable in the airplane make from this film, at least for me, the most complete film of any other Bond series.
Dazzling direction and the bitterness of Bond,James Bond.
After you watch,please beware on the next hat you see.
A cult movie.

My favorite movie from Bond series
I still can remember the first time I watched this film. I was in a old hall cinema and I watched three times that day . I just was eight years old but what histamine.
Harold Sakata as Odd Jobb has been the most hated villain in any Bond series and Grett Frobe as Goldfinger is one of the coldest and smart Spectre agents. Honor Blackman with her incandescent beauty as Pussy Galore is a perfect balance.
The film has a lot of smart and suggestive situations. Do you remember the sequence of the champaign bottle?
The ambush in the hall made by Goldfinger is a first rate, so the girl painted with gold, the chases and the unforgettable swiss landscapes, and the hair raising end in Fort Knox and in the airplane made of this one my eternal favorite among others.
Dazzling direction by Guy Hamilton and delightful action sequences.
Watch it and please, be careful with the next hat you see. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Charlie Chaplin's last film is the cinematic equivalent of Willie Mays staying too long in baseball--a sad farewell from someone who has clearly lost his touch. Marlon Brando (who famously did not get along with Chaplin and initiated, with this film, his curious habit of undermining his directors' best intentions) plays an American millionaire leaving Hong Kong to assume an ambassadorship. He discovers Sophia Loren--playing a daughter of Russian aristocrats and a former gangster moll--concealed in his closet onboard the outbound ship, hoping to gain passage to the States. Brando, looking none too pleased, agrees to help her, with not terribly comic or romantic results. Chaplin's one modestly clever touch is to have the camera rock gently and slowly back and forth, ostensibly emulating the movement of the luxury liner. The humor falls flat, Brando and Loren have no chemistry, and the story isn't terribly engaging. The former Little Tramp appears, mercifully briefly, as a seasick steward who opens and closes a door, swooning in between. Appropriately enough, in silence. --David Kronke ... Read more

Reviews (9)

time for a reevaluation
after the recent passing of brando i picked up a magazine celebrating his career. it listed this as one of his 10 best films and said this film was beautiful and vastly underrated.
couldnt agree more.
the misfire was in misrepresentation of it as an out and out comedy. of course chaplins films were rarely 'just comedies'.
countess of course relates to the earlier 'woman of paris' and this is indeed a throwback to 1920s sensabilities.
critics have for years pounced on this film (and brando was one of those critics, but then brando pounced on a lot of his own films and his method acting didnt simply gel with chaplins direction)but brando is indeed good as is the film itself.
its a nice small charmer. you'll enjoy it.

a little old-fashioned for 1960s standards
A COUNTESS FROM HONG KONG was director/comedian Charlie Chaplin's final film. In this film he is the director, writer and composer.

The story concerns a beguiling Russian countess named Natascha (Sophia Loren - HOUSEBOAT), a young woman forced into prostitution in Hong Kong, when she happens to meet an American politician named Ogden Mears (Marlon Brando - A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, SUPERMAN). She stows away in his stateroom aboard a ship headed back to the States, where she belives she can escape her miserable life.

The usual battle-of-the-sexes ensues, when Natascha and Ogden are forced to spend the entire voyage together, bickering and fighting over their different opinions and tastes. But its soon evident that they are in love. Things become complicated when Ogden's icy wife (Tippi Hedren - THE BIRDS, MARNIE) joins the ship at Hawaii, while Natascha finds herself marrying Ogden's valet in order to gain an American passport!

This is a film that feels a little old-fashioned for the 1960s, but it is a rather charming and engaging romantic comedy. Perhaps the film is best-known for launching the hit single "(Love) This is My Song", made famous by Petula Clark. The movie also stars Sydney Chaplin, Patrick Cargill and Margaret Rutherford in a rather-clever cameo.

The DVD includes the trailer. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

This DVD is part of a new series of classic releases from Universal that also include "Pillow Talk", "Send Me No Flowers", "The Thrill of It All!" and a twofer of "Man's Favorite Sport?/Strange Bedfellows".

Another review
I see there's several reviews already for this film, but here goes my two cents worth. Even though this is Chaplin's last film, it's his first and only film in color and widescreen. The movie is old fashion to say the least, it might of been better in b/w. Brando and Loren are completely wasted, the supporting players fair much better. Chaplin is quite good in his cameo role (makes you wish he'd given himself a bigger part). At the time, Chaplin took the negative reviews as almost a personal threat. He really defended the film, even going so far as to say he thought it was the best film he ever made! However several years later he admitted it wasn't very good, he said the actors where great but the story was really thin.

Goodbye Charlie
This is the final motion picture written and directed by Charlie Chaplin. He was 78 years old when it was released and had been in political exile from the United States for the past 15 years.

Although the movie features two of the biggest stars of its time, Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren, and was written as an old-fashioned comedy, it is rather slow and "talky." It has plenty of curiosity value, but I'm sorry to report, not a great deal of entertainment value. The once mighty Chaplin, had simply run out of gas. Working with Brando (who openly made fun of Chaplin during filming) and a script he had first drafted in the 30s for Paulette Goddard, Chaplin was out of his element.

Under-rated
"Countess" was Chaplin's final film and sadly I think it has been labelled as being awful. This is not the case. I feel that the main reason for people believing this to be a bad film is that they don't understand it. Chaplin always created fantastic stories out of simple ideas and this is not an exception. It is written and directed with such subtle elegance that some of the simpliest visual gags turn into the most hilarious situations. There are fantastic actors all round: Brando himself, Sophia Loren looking gorgeous, Sydney Chaplin showing that talent does run in the family and Patrick Cargill as the butler. Chaplin himself pulls a cameo and does a great job at not hogging his screen time, a mistake made by directors like Tarantino. The result is an amazingly gentle film that shows people from a fresh human perspective, a breath of fresh air by todays standards. You will be missed Charlie. ... Read more

Reviews (184)

IMHO, 60's Bond was the best...
I was born in the 70's and grew up in the 80's and 90's so one would think I would prefer Roger Moore or maybe Dalton or Brosnan. But when I think Bond/007, I only think of Sean Connery and the films from the 60's. I guess it's because the decade was perfect for the character(sexism/persona/fashion), the look and feel(tux/bowler hat/suave sophistication/martini in hand/cig. in mouth/exotic locales), and the music(twangy guitar theme/big brassy numbers). And GOLDFINGER was arguably the definitive representation of all this:

*Shirley Bassey's great rendition of the title song.
*the classic Aston-Martin DB5 with all the gadgets.
*the strong female lead with that name: Pussy Galore!
*one of the coolest and most beloved henchman/sidekicks in the series: Odd Job(love the grin and hat).
*one of the most ambitious, greedy, resourceful villains ever(well played by Gert Frobe-hard to believe he was dubbed in the movie as the audio commentary pointed out).
*classic scenes like Shirley Eaton covered in gold, the "laser beam" scene, the rumpus room, and the end fight.
*good plotline, and good plot to break in to Fort Knox...with a slight twist(love the scene where 007 is figuring out the plot and Goldfinger seems genuinely pleased that someone recognizes his 'genius')
*ok, so Kentucky ain't too exotic(unless you're from Switzerland I guess), but the Swiss Alps and inside a 'pretend' Fort Knox? You don't see that everyday.

All great stuff. The other guys had some good movies in their reign as Bond, but I think Connery was on a roll with From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball. There was so much style and a special aura that defined what Bond/spy/adventure films should be during that 3-film stint. And after all the praise I have for Goldfinger(just recently got the dvd), for the record, it's not even my all-time favorite. That belongs to THUNDERBALL: #1, Largo with the eye patch, the Spectre organization, Claudine Auger in shades on the beach, the jet pack, the underwater fight, etc....oh man. Sorry, back to Goldfinger. Buy the dvd, lots of great extras(2 commentaries, 2 documentaries, etc). If you're a fan, you're not reading this cause you own it. But to non-fans, the film alone is worth the absurdly low price and the loads of extras are what every dvd collector would want. Highly recommended for anyone.

The golden Bond film
The best Bond film? You bet. Sean Connery's Goldfinger is an awesome combination of everything a Bond film needs. Connery gives the best performance of any Bond film, and Honor Blackman is one of the best girls (and certainly the most famous) in the series. Gert Frobe is an outstanding villain, and Oddjob is the definitive henchman. Blackman is supported by two other great girls in the Masterson sisters. Q gives OO7 his best car (followed by the Lotus in TSWLM, the Mustang in Diamonds, and the BMW in TND) featuring machine guns, smokescreen, tire puncturers, and even an ejector seat. Bond also receives a tracking device from Q. The car chase is excellent, and the climax is one of the best at Fort Knox. Script is filled with witty lines, and the story is almost unmatched (Goldfinger will contaminate the gold supply in Fort Knox to greatly increase the amount of his own horde). Locations run from Flordia to Switzerland to Kentucky. Shirley Bassey's title song is great indeed, and Barry's score is in his top five for Bond films. The feel is superb, and everything cultimates together to make this the best OO7 film ever.

The great James in his best
In the the third film of this Bond series this may well be his favorite : (for me it's the best) there are enough reasons to hold this statement.
Harold Sakata is the most hated villain in any Bond picture, the maquiavelian mind and overwhelming presence of Auric Goldfinger , the unforgettable swiss landscapes , the girls Honor Blackman who is two steps behind of Daniela Bianchi (From Russia with love) and Claudine Auger (Thunderball) in what beauty concerns , the laser sequence , the poker game , the fine and suggestive dialogues , the ambush in the hall , the battle in Fort Knox and that hair raising final combat in the airplane, the dazzling direction of Guy Hamilton and the spectacular Aston Martin.
What else do you need for watching by the first time this one or remind it in case you saw before as a timeless cult movie ?
And please beware of any other hat in the head of someone like Odd Job.

The best achievement of the Bond series
This film is a winner in all the sense of the word. May be you won't find the advanced special effects of this age. But who really cares?
Watch for the admirable lot of golden situations; the suggestive sequence in which we laugh when James compare the champaign with the Beatles, for instance in a double sense joke, the unforgettable swiss landscapes, the eternally beauty of Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, the presence of Harold Sakata the most hated villain in any Bond film, the powerful balance given by Grett Frobe as Auric Goldfinger the maquiavelian and perverse mind of Spectre, the notorius ambush in the hall , the final battle in Fort Knox and that unforgettable in the airplane make from this film, at least for me, the most complete film of any other Bond series.
Dazzling direction and the bitterness of Bond,James Bond.
After you watch,please beware on the next hat you see.
A cult movie.

My favorite movie from Bond series
I still can remember the first time I watched this film. I was in a old hall cinema and I watched three times that day . I just was eight years old but what histamine.
Harold Sakata as Odd Jobb has been the most hated villain in any Bond series and Grett Frobe as Goldfinger is one of the coldest and smart Spectre agents. Honor Blackman with her incandescent beauty as Pussy Galore is a perfect balance.
The film has a lot of smart and suggestive situations. Do you remember the sequence of the champaign bottle?
The ambush in the hall made by Goldfinger is a first rate, so the girl painted with gold, the chases and the unforgettable swiss landscapes, and the hair raising end in Fort Knox and in the airplane made of this one my eternal favorite among others.
Dazzling direction by Guy Hamilton and delightful action sequences.
Watch it and please, be careful with the next hat you see. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

GREAT FILM HAMPERED BY WEAK ENDING.
Let me first say,if not for the last ten minutes of this film I would have given this movie a five star rating and proclaimed it one of the all-time classics of 50's sci-fi.But because of poor execution in the finaly I am unable to give it my highest recommendation.

As for the rest of the picture,I was thoroughly pleased.From the cast to the spfx,it was apparent that the film-makers were doing there best to make a good film.

The cast is lead by Marshall Thompson;a veteran of 50's sci-fi;and other than a few moments of "gee whiz" delivery he turns in one of his best on-screen performances.The rest of the cast is solid as well.From the leads to the bit parts,everyone was adequate or better.

The spfx were effective and superior to what you would normally expect from this type of film.Also,the stock footage was seamlessly blended into the movie.As for the monster,it was actually very effective looking in the night time scenes.The first time you get a look at it coming through the bushes I was very impressed.Unfortanetly,it isnt nearly as frightening in the well-lit scenes.And who told the guy in the monster suit to walk around like he had ... in his pants?

Which brings me to the reason the ending disappointed me so much.In an effort to place their film above the pack,the movie makers attempted a more thoughtful ending rather than the typical "destroy the monster" ending.It just doesnt work because the monster looks so cheezy in the well-lit room its hard to forget your just seeing some actor in a rubber suit.Its also difficult to feel sorry for someone who killed so many innocent people,despite the extenuating circumstances.

Even though the ending was such a let down I still think this would be a solid addition to anyones sci-fi collection. ...you'll definetly be getting your moneys worth.

A must see for any sci-fi fan
When it comes to B sci fi movies this one holds up. Despite what some reviewers say this movie has all the makings to be near a classic. You have monster chases people, and true to the time a man made tragedy transforms a normal human into a beast. Although it's some dust in space that transforms him it was inside a man made plane thus showing us the supposed dangers of space.

It even tosses in a element of a soft side towards the ending, the ending kind of leaves you hanging but overall fulfilling. I suggest any fan of the 50's genre of sci fi fans to watch this one I think you won't be dissapointed.

Slept with the light on for a week!!!
This film caused me nightmares when I was a child (after it was run on television). I have never forgotten seeing this movie -- nor have I forgotten sleeping with the lights on for a week -- even though I am now 50 years old. Several Internet movie database websites list this film as "suitable for children." I DON'T THINK SO; unless scaring the crap out of your children is your goal?

THE BEST
THIS MOVIE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I SAW IT IN THE MOVIES IN THE BRONX NY ,WHEN I WAS EIGHT YRS OLD.I HAD NIGHTMARES FOR A WEEK. THE PART WHEN HE COMES THRU THE BUSHES I FELL OFF MY SEAT.BLACK AN WHITE FILMING MADE IT EVEN BETTER.THIS IS A MUST HAVE.

Well acted with a cool monster
When the First Man Into Space gets a cosmic dusting it does some strange things to his mind and body. Pretty good monster and a very good leading man, Marshall Thompson make for a better than average 50's genre sci-fi story. Close to a classic. There was some light speckling in the transfer but all in all the DVD played well and the sound ( Mono ) was acceptable. ... Read more

Description

A cocky test pilot takes his experimental aircraft higher than anyone has ever flown before--and he is bombarded by cosmic rays and crashes without a trace, until a mysterious string of vampire-like killings occur. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

GREAT FILM HAMPERED BY WEAK ENDING.
Let me first say,if not for the last ten minutes of this film I would have given this movie a five star rating and proclaimed it one of the all-time classics of 50's sci-fi.But because of poor execution in the finaly I am unable to give it my highest recommendation.

As for the rest of the picture,I was thoroughly pleased.From the cast to the spfx,it was apparent that the film-makers were doing there best to make a good film.

The cast is lead by Marshall Thompson;a veteran of 50's sci-fi;and other than a few moments of "gee whiz" delivery he turns in one of his best on-screen performances.The rest of the cast is solid as well.From the leads to the bit parts,everyone was adequate or better.

The spfx were effective and superior to what you would normally expect from this type of film.Also,the stock footage was seamlessly blended into the movie.As for the monster,it was actually very effective looking in the night time scenes.The first time you get a look at it coming through the bushes I was very impressed.Unfortanetly,it isnt nearly as frightening in the well-lit scenes.And who told the guy in the monster suit to walk around like he had ... in his pants?

Which brings me to the reason the ending disappointed me so much.In an effort to place their film above the pack,the movie makers attempted a more thoughtful ending rather than the typical "destroy the monster" ending.It just doesnt work because the monster looks so cheezy in the well-lit room its hard to forget your just seeing some actor in a rubber suit.Its also difficult to feel sorry for someone who killed so many innocent people,despite the extenuating circumstances.

Even though the ending was such a let down I still think this would be a solid addition to anyones sci-fi collection. ...you'll definetly be getting your moneys worth.

A must see for any sci-fi fan
When it comes to B sci fi movies this one holds up. Despite what some reviewers say this movie has all the makings to be near a classic. You have monster chases people, and true to the time a man made tragedy transforms a normal human into a beast. Although it's some dust in space that transforms him it was inside a man made plane thus showing us the supposed dangers of space.

It even tosses in a element of a soft side towards the ending, the ending kind of leaves you hanging but overall fulfilling. I suggest any fan of the 50's genre of sci fi fans to watch this one I think you won't be dissapointed.

Slept with the light on for a week!!!
This film caused me nightmares when I was a child (after it was run on television). I have never forgotten seeing this movie -- nor have I forgotten sleeping with the lights on for a week -- even though I am now 50 years old. Several Internet movie database websites list this film as "suitable for children." I DON'T THINK SO; unless scaring the crap out of your children is your goal?

THE BEST
THIS MOVIE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I SAW IT IN THE MOVIES IN THE BRONX NY ,WHEN I WAS EIGHT YRS OLD.I HAD NIGHTMARES FOR A WEEK. THE PART WHEN HE COMES THRU THE BUSHES I FELL OFF MY SEAT.BLACK AN WHITE FILMING MADE IT EVEN BETTER.THIS IS A MUST HAVE.

Well acted with a cool monster
When the First Man Into Space gets a cosmic dusting it does some strange things to his mind and body. Pretty good monster and a very good leading man, Marshall Thompson make for a better than average 50's genre sci-fi story. Close to a classic. There was some light speckling in the transfer but all in all the DVD played well and the sound ( Mono ) was acceptable. ... Read more

Description

It's outrageous good fun! Writer Mickey Spillane stars as his hard-boiled private detective Mike Hammer in this action-packed murder mystery. After seven years on a drunken binge over the disappearance of Velda, his former secretary, Hammer is picked up out of the gutter by the police and dropped smack-dab in the middle of a political bombshell where every lead seems to end in murder. After being told his beloved Velda is still alive, but being held by the Dragon, an infamous international assassin and leader of a spy ring, Hammer sets out to find her. With only guts and attitude to get him by, Hammer gets deeper and deeper into a conspiracy that surrounds him on all sides, threatening his and Velda's lives. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Bare-bones DVD is nevertheless worth a look
It's funny how Mike Hammer, gritty gumshoe from the streets of New York, always seems to get involved in white-hot cases involving the most sensitive and clandestine areas of international politics. So one has to smile when this happens yet again in "The Girl Hunters." But that's the fun thing about Mike Hammer stories: you know what you're gonna get and you always get it. Other Hammer staples this movie serves up with enthusiasm include tough talk, a fistfight or two, a most-likely untrustworthy female protagonist, and a brutal, memorable ending. To quibble a bit, I would have liked to see Hammer's longtime secretary Velda actually appear, as her unknown whereabouts and mysterious past are major motivations for Hammer moving through the complicated plot. Also, the weird trumpet music we hear when Hammer is on the prowl searching for clues sounds more like a funeral dirge for a fallen mafioso than a private eye theme. But, hey, the movie is generally pretty good, and non-actor Spillane actually holds his own with the dazzling Shirley Eaton and old pro Lloyd Nolan. However, all but die-hard Hammer fans will probably prefer to rent rather than buy this item, as there are zero extras on the DVD. You get the movie and that's it.

The girl Hunters
Although Mickey Spillane's acting is terrible, the film has a certain reality about it. After all to actually see Spillane portraying his famous character is great. The film is shot in a very realistic home movie fashion. Clearly not an oscar candidate, yet it has a rare quality. I think it is the honest nature of this film that is captivating to watch. It is truely a must for any Mike Hammer/Spillane fan. I never tire of seeing it!

Good, gritty Mike Hammer B-movie
"The Girl Hunters" is considered to be by many the second best screen adaptation of a Mike Hammer detective novel ("Kiss Me Deadly" being the first). In this one the author, Mickey Spillane, plays the role of Hammer. He's somewhat wooden in the part and his voice does not lend itself to film acting (it's raspy), but he is passable as Hammer. The film itself is B-grade but it is a good, gritty one. Shirley Eaton, from "Goldfinger", plays the female lead quite well.

The story moves at a quick pace and several scenes stick in the mind. One takes place in a bar where Hammer convinces a bad guy that it in his best interest to swallow a bullet. A second is an ultra-violent confrontation between Hammer and the villian that is better than the fight between Connery and Shaw in "From Russia with Love" (Hammer finds a unique method for getting the defeated villian to stay put for the police that is extrememly violent for the time the film was produced). Also, Hammer's advice on how to properly care for shotgun lingers at the film's fade-out.

The widescreen version is very well done. The black and white print is crisp.

Mickey Spillane IS Mike Hammer
Having watched a number of Mike Hammer t.v. shows, I was looking forward to seeing what the author (Mickey Spillane) could bring to his creation. I was not disappointed. I was, in fact, suprised by how well he played Mike Hammer, and I would definitely recommend this film to fans of all ages. The only thing that bothered me about the film is the often annoying soundtrack. Note: the movie is in widescreen format

worthy spillane performance; killer ending
Mickey Spillane plays his own Mike Hammer in this otherwiseunspectacular noir mystery. Although it does have a pretzel stick ofa plot somewhere in there, nothing much really happens. The film lives and dies on Spillane's stonefaced, scene-chewing performance. Don't miss the ending. Good-looking dvd presentation, presented in extremely full scope. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting but biassed
The theme of the film is essential. It is about conquering independence in African countries that are colonized, here by the English. Must this liberation come through violence or through christian love ? Must this liberation be radical or progressive ? The film answers that christian love is essential, the church must lead this liberation and it must come progressively. We may regret that the point of view of the nationalist forces among Africans are not described in their real terms, contradictions and stakes. The film wants to prove its point and neglects the arguments of the other side, through it has the courage to show that some whites are for the use of pure violence to impose their domination and the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

An old film with truth for today
A young Sidney Portier is magnificent as a newly-elected black politician in the white-run government of his country, struggling with how to fight for rights and freedom for his black countrymen. Should he join in the violent raids that his brother helps lead or use nonviolent means propounded by the church he grew up in (and was kicked out of). What impressed me most about this film was the way it portrayed the church and Christianity. It is one of the most honest pictures of "the Church" that I've seen in a movie in a long time! Most modern movies show Christians as quacks, tyrants, fools or wimps. This movie shows their flaws and foibles as well as their strength and integrity. The movie shows the global reality of Christianity; I appreciated the fact that the "Christian" characters included a native black pastor, and missionaries from both America and India. The message of nonviolence was also well-done, making it an active thing, not just a passive, do-nothing reaction to evil and injustice. This is a great movie, lots of compelling speeches and situations. It really makes you think! ... Read more