It's amazing how films age. "Rome," the "good" movie in this double feature is teeth-grindingly dull while "Tangiers," the cheap 007 knockoff about the death ray, totally delivers. I suppose it's possible that "Rome" had an audience four decades ago, but it's one of those talky, luxurious Euro-escapades with an over-the-hill star or two, lots of sitting around in plazas and on terraces, the obligatory trip to Venice, the women all in those blocky coats with the oversized buttons and the sleeves that stop just after the elbows, etc etc. "Rome" is nigh-unwatchable and hasn't got a trace of action until the very end.
"Tangiers" on the other hand, has almost everything you could want in a cheap Euro spy movie from the 60s. Sports cars racing along seaside mountain roads, that one skinny, gray-haired guy who turns up in many of these things, lots of fights, etc. Not up there with the best, like Operation Kid Brother or Danger! Death Ray!! but if you like stuff like the Commissar X movies, this belongs in your collection. |