Hold On! - 1966 - USA

Hold On! - 1966 - 6/10

 
Fun little romp of Herman’s Hermits hitting the States, Herman wooing Shelley Fabares.
Shelley sings one, on the beach with backing musicians.  Herman and mates sing around ten.
The plot, tissue thin, involves a popular vote wanting the next rocket named after the group.
NASA sends an agent to investigate, while a fading starlet tries to gloom her way into the circle.
While more entertaining than DC5’s Having A Wild Weekend, this feels corny and dated.
In 1966, the British Invasion was over, “Revolver” came out, as did “Pet Sounds”, “Aftermath”, “Freak Out”, “East-West”, “Blonde On Blonde”, way too many.

Island Of Terror - 1966 - UK

Island Of Terror - 1966 - 6/10 

 
Researchers, aiming for a cancer cure, accidentally create a silicone based life form.
One that needs calcium (bones) to grow and multiply.
The island off of Ireland is small, and has numerous cows.  And tasty humans!
Entertaining SciFi / Horror romp builds slowly, while the silicates multiply every six hours.
For all that, this feels like a glorified Doctor Who outing. 

Hold Me While I’m Naked - 1966 - USA

Hold Me While I’m Naked - 1966 - 5/10

 
“The only things in life worth living for.”
The fantasies and restrictions of the indie director.
From encounters behind stained glass to shaking antennas to banal mealtime.
Experimental film manages to be sexy, funny and depressing.

The Endless Summer - 1966 - USA

The Endless Summer - 1966 - 7/10

 
Early, arguably the finest surf doc, generating a plethora of docs that followed.
Mike and Rob follow the warmth, shifting from one part of the globe to another.
Most of the places they surf are flat-out deserted.
The commentary is laid back and humorous.
Photography is not what surf porn is today, but sparse beaches and empty waves will be mouth-watering to those accustomed to herds of pros, influencers, followers and wannabees.
Exotic travel, once exclusive, viewed that way here.

The Plague Of The Zombies - 1966 - UK

The Plague Of The Zombies - 1966 - 6/10

 
Old school, not modern flesh feasters, but mindless drones.
The esteemed surgeon fields a request from his star pupil.
A dozen villagers have died mysteriously, and his own wife is acting strange.
Mischief afoot, and as ever, suspicion upon the local squire.
Solid Hammer outing is good mystery, with handsome production values.
Seems to hark back to Lugosi’s Zombie (1932).

Attack Of The Robots - 1966 - France

Attack Of The Robots - 1966 - 5/10
AKA - Cartes sur Table

 
Dark skinned humanoids openly assassinate leaders and dignitaries.
Besides the skin, a dead giveaway is their special spectacles.
Though predating either, they resemble Autons and Cybernauts.
Interpol contacts retired agent, Al Pereira.
Pereira, a frequent alter-ego of Jess Franco, is played by Eddie Constantine for laughs.
Power struggle between Interpol, Chinese agents, and the evil controllers.
Two-fisted spoof of spy flicks and late Krimi is mindless fluff.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3369231

She Beast - 1966 - UK

She Beast - 1966 - 5/10
AKA - Revenge Of The Blood Beast

 
“It looks like that bed could collapse at any moment.”
“Let’s risk it,”  she laughs.
What could be more romantic? On your honeymoon, when your car breaks down in Transylvania.
Where your bride is body switched with a 300 year old, hideous witch.
The premise is sure enough, but the comedy dominates.
Moreover, it is silly bordering on stupid.
Looking for Barbara Steele?  Hurry.  Her scenes are few.

The Silencers - 1966 - USA

The Silencers - 1966 - 5/10

 
Initial Matt Helm installment plays the agent strictly for laughs.
Helm is now retired, living as a glamour photographer.  (pretty girls)
His old agency discovers a threat to initiate global nuclear war - Operation Fallout, and persuades him back.
Despite a big budget, this feels like glorified Maxwell Smart to me.
Stella Stevens plays a moronic nemesis, gratingly whining and crying.
She will get on your nerves and irritate you throughout.
Funny (in a slapstick way) and successful back when.  Now feeble.

Grand Prix - 1966 - USA

Grand Prix - 1966 - 7/10

 
Overlong, overwrought, soap opera claptrap.
Until the Formula One engines roar to life!
Racing sequences are dazzling, thrilling even, as you are in the seat.
Groundbreaking back in the day, and still completely shames CGI fakery.
Nevertheless, the love triangles suck big time.
Yves Montand memorable as the aging driver who cannot retire.  HIS is the story.
Other relationships go nowhere.  Fast forward, you won’t miss much.

The Brides Of Fu Manchu - 1966 - UK

The Brides Of Fu Manchu - 1966 - 5/10

 
Well, if you want to be accurate, they are actually caged prisoners.
Whose fathers are eminent specialists.
Obey his instructions or the daughters will perish horribly.
The goal?  World domination!
Rather silly film benefits from Lee, as always, and energetic players.
Jarring at first seeing Chinese villains amidst a backdrop of Egyptian statues and frescos.
There’s also an underground installation of electronics that Ernst Blofield would envy.

Nevada Smith - 1966 - USA

Nevada Smith - 1966 - 6/10

 
Following the murder of his parents, Max Sand grows up thirsting for revenge.
As a young adult, he changes his name and tracks down the villains one by one.
Violent Western freighted with soap business (script).
Excellent scenery, yet the lingering shots and pacing stall the film.
McQueen OK, although villains and shady ladies appear to possess more charisma.
Dated now, especially since few recall Harold Robbins, once a wildly popular novelist.
He wrote steamy potboilers; “Nevada Smith” was a prequel to “The Carpetbaggers”.

Our Man Flint - 1966 - USA

Our Man Flint - 1966 - 6/10

 
Likely overdue, following the 1960’s spy craze of Bond, UNCLE, Harry Palmer, etc …
Derek Flint, agent for Z.O.W.I.E., must take down runaway scientists, demanding world peace.
Gadget, a tricked out cigarette lighter.
Parody of spy genre all the way, would have likely been a goofy dud (like the Helm films) had it not been for the magnetism of James Coburn.
He exudes coo and panache throughout, even during the most absurd moments.
Great viewing when I was a kid, still funny.

Intimacy - 1966 - USA

Intimacy - 1966 - 5/10

 
Walter has been cooking the books with his company, plus he’s in hock to loan sharks.
If he can just swing the agency contract with the high and mighty Jim.
Walt tries bribery, alcohol, then sends a blonde hooker to Jim’s room.
The whole time, a hidden camera rolls, in case any frisky business occurs.
This ought to be sleazy entertainment, save this was filmed in two rooms.
Worse, this is a marathon talkfest.
Boring, despite attractive cast and voyeuristic come-on.

Eye Of The Devil - 1966 - UK

Eye Of The Devil - 1966 - 6/10

Philippe is summoned back to the ancestral home.
The surrounding vineyards are in decline, necessitating the ancient rites.
He tells his wife to stay home in Paris, with the children.
She disobeys, not understanding the danger she has placed herself and her children, into.
This is a fantastic looking film, yet it is a MGM vehicle for star Deborah Kerr.
And she dominates, hamming it up.  Over-emoting, wailing, screaming.
David Hemming far more memorable as the mysterious archer.

 
There are the twelve robed figures, an upcoming village fete, and the fatalistic Niven.
Not to forget newcomer Sharon Tate, who seems an adept.

 
The potential for atmospheric Gothic Horror is rivaled by the disappointment in the Melodrama that this was.
Extremely disappointing as every other player serves the moody story.

The Diabolical Doctor Z - 1966 - France

The Diabolical Doctor Z - 1966 - 6/10
AKA - Miss Muerte

The good doktor, acolyte / follower of Dr. Orloff, asks the board permission to experiment on humans.
His gizmo could remove the murder impulse from killers.
Denied and derided, with his dying gasp he urges his daughter to carry on.
Only she wants revenge.
She finds her instrument in a stage artist call Miss Death.

 
Perfect entry for anyone curious about Jess Franco.
Well constructed story of revenge and murder.
Fantastic Noir lighting, a fetching Estella Blain as the lethal huntress.
Recent DVD contains excellent commentary by Franco expert, Tim Lucas.

The Witches - 1966 - UK

The Witches - 1966 - 6/10

Her final experiences in Africa were horrifying.
Tribal uprising led by the witch doctor.
Safely back in England, Gwen lands the job of headmistress in the village school.

 
Where, drip by drip, the locals still believe, still practice, the odd pagan rites.
Almost everyone is close-lipped, yet she sees how the women view the older children.
Obsessively protective, saving them … for what?
Hammer film has good locations, fabulous color, slow buildup.
Finale proves a little too artsy for my liking, however.

Around The World Under The Sea - 1966 - USA

Around The World Under The Sea - 1966 - 5/10

 
Team of modern Argonauts roam the depths.
Mission: place early warning, earthquake sensors.
Cast of familiar faces struggles with a talky script, and a profound lack of action.
An onboard chess match seems more contentious than aquatic dangers.
The relationships are sheer nonsense, the “science” is comic book.
One watches mostly for Lloyd Bridges and Shirley Eaton, others less remembered.

The Blue Max - 1966 - UK

The Blue Max - 1966 - 6/10

 
During the Great War, pilots are decimated, and replacements are recruited from the trenches.
No longer aristocrats, but common rabble … such as Bruno.
The aerial conflicts seem near conclusion, yet Bruno wants to win a “kill” medal.
Meaning, shoot down 20 enemy planes.
None of that élan or chivalry for him, he is an unrepentant boor, at odds with his titled fellow officers.
Longish movie dwells too much on the class warfare.
Dogfights are exciting, George Peppard and Ursula Andress have torrid chemistry.
Cynical tone, and political manipulations might put many off.

Girl From Tobacco Road - 1966 - USA

Girl From Tobacco Road - 1966 - 6/10

 
The chain gang guard turns his back, next thing his head is whacked and the men scatter.
“Snake” arrives in a rural Tennessee backwater and is befriended by a widowed pastor with children.
Eager young boy and two older sisters, one frisky, the other reserved.
Add a courting sheriff, add three city hoods, add a missing stash of bank loot.
More?  Friends, the Tobacco Festival is underway, glorious celebration to burley and nicotine.
Square dancing, bluegrass, rockabilly, old timey country, an unbelievable harmonica number.
Eerie thing, this is a remarkable time capsule of a time and place where I grew up.
Nicolas Winding Refn has restored the surviving elements as best as possible.

Fury In Marrakech - 1966 - Italy

Fury In Marrakech - 1966 - 5/10
AKA - Furia a Marrakech

 
International crime syndicate has located Hitler’s immense cache of counterfeit dollars and pounds.
The CIA send clean-scrubbed Dixon to investigate, Special Branch sends Alexander King to observe.
Plot is paper thin.  Dixon comes across as naive, inexperienced, perhaps chaste.
Action runs along chases and shootings.
Locations must have been pretty exotic: the Caribbean, New York, Marrakech, the Swiss Alps.
There is a poor man’s Q, whose gizmos rescue Dixon from time to time.
Skiing sequences predate On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Empty headed knockoff, capitalizing on Bond mania.
Movie buffs, check out the theaters marquees at the twenty minute point!