Hammerhead * (1968, Vince Edwards, Judy Geeson, Peter Vaughan, Diana Dors) – Classic Movie Review 12,912

Producer Irving Allen’s routine 1968 spy thriller film Hammerhead stars Vince Edwards, Judy Geeson, Peter Vaughan, and Diana Dors. Nice cast, shame about the film.

Director David Miller’s and producer Irving Allen’s routine and plodding 1968 spy thriller film Hammerhead stars Vince Edwards, Judy Geeson, Peter Vaughan, and Diana Dors.

Vince Edwards, TV’s Ben Casey (1961 to 1966), gets a chance to star on the big screen in a typical 1960s espionage yarn as an American soldier of fortune-type spy called Charles Hood on the trail of superbaddie Peter Vaughan, an international criminal mastermind called Hammerhead who is after the usual top-secret defence papers, in this case a secret NATO report on nuclear defence.

Even back in 1968 Hammerhead was already long past its sell-by date, thanks to the muddled, weary script and the dull performances by Vince Edwards and Beverly Adams. But the British-based cast slightly come to the rescue, notably also including Michael Bates, Patrick Cargill, Patrick Holt, William Mervyn, Kathleen Byron, Douglas Wilmer, Tracy Reed, Joseph Furst, and David Prowse, all of them very welcome.

William Bast and Herbert Baker’s screenplay is based on the 1964 novel by English novelist James Mayo, with adaptation by John Briley.

It is shot in London and Portugal by cinematographers Wilkie Cooper and Kenneth Talbot.

It is produced by Irving Allen and written by Herbert Baker, who had more luck with the Matt Helm spy films, also for Columbia Pictures.

Beverly Adams met hairstylist Vidal Sassoon at his London salon while she was filming Torture Garden. They married on 16 February 1967 and after Hammerhead Adams retired from acting to raise their four children.

The cast are Vince Edwards as Charles Hood, Judy Geeson as Sue Trenton, Peter Vaughan as Hammerhead, Diana Dors as Kit, Michael Bates as Andreas / Sir Richard, Beverly Adams as Ivory, Patrick Cargill as Condor, Patrick Holt as Huntzinger, William Mervyn as Walter Perrin, Douglas Wilmer as Pietro Vendriani, Tracy Reed as Miss Hull, Kenneth Cope as Motorcyclist, Kathleen Byron as Lady Calvert, Jack Woolgar as Tookey Tate, Joseph Furst as Count Ortega, Andreas Malandrinos as Post Office Guard, David Prowse as George, Earl Younger as Brian, Romo Gorrara as Marcel, Maggie Wright as Roselle, Veronica Carlson as Ulla, Penny Brahms as Frieda, Sarah Hardenburg as Kiki, Otto Diamant as Joa, Windsor Davies as Police Sergeant, and Arthur Gomez as Café Proprietor.

Release date: April 1968.

Running time: 99 minutes.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,912

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