Agent From H.A.R.M. (1966)

The long-running sci-fi program "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" dedicated itself to providing sarcastic (and often highly amusing) commentary to absurd low-budget sci-fi and fantasy films. The fact that this film is one of those which received the MST3K treatment should give an indication as to it's quality (or lack thereof).

The Bond franchise has long been one of the most lucrative series of films and there have been many attempts to imitate it's success. Some attempt, such as "The Man From UNCLE" were reasonably successful, while other, such as this film, were rather less successful.

The cinematography, music and acting throughout are mediocre but it's the plot and dialogue that really sends this film into the "What were they thinking?" category. Secret Agent Adam Chance is sent to investigate a scientist recently emigrated from the Soviet Union who is working on an antidote to a strain of deadly spores that fell to Earth in a meteorite. A group of suitably incompetent bad-guys want to steal his spore samples and use them to contaminate America's fields.

Admittedly, the premise isn't any sillier than some in the Bond series but it's the execution that is breathtakingly inept. To start with, Adam Chance is possibly the worst attempt at a suave secret agent, managing instead to appear as a lecherous and incompetent middle-aged man who fights evil in a series of rather absurd cardigans. Where James Bond is dynamic, Chance is at best faintly laughable and the effect is more Jeremy Beadle than James Bond. His attempts to thwart the bad people's evil plan are only successful because they are as stupid as he is, after breaking into the scientists house, they fail to notice Chance hiding in the back of their van as they travel back to their lair.

There are absurd plot twists and production decisions of such great number that there's too many to mention - although the MST3K commentary manages to lampoon most of them.

In short, this is a spectacularly inept film, although it does at least allow some entertainment to be gained from laughing at how bad it is.

Rating : 2 / 10

All content ©2003 William Marnoch.

Comments? Agree/Disagree with the Reviews? Suggestions? Random Ramblings? Whatever you might want to say, feel free to e-mail me at william@wmarnoch.freeserve.co.uk .