Target for Killing

Target for Killing (Das Geheimminis Der Gelben Monche) (1966)

Runtime: 98 minutes

Directed by: Manfred R. Kohler

Starring: Stewart Granger, Karin Dor, Curd Jurgens, Rupert Davies, Adolfo Celi, Klaus Kinski

From: A few different European companies

It’s been awhile but this was now the time to see another Eurospy film. Thankfully some can be found online, even if the quality tends to be rather rough. Thankfully, the copy I found was more than acceptable, even if the audio often switched between English and German (not the first time this has happened) and a fullscreen picture. This was a West German/Austrian/Italian production which-rare for movies this obscure to North America-has more than one mutual review.

Stewart Granger is not secret agent James Bond, but rather secret agent James Vine. Curt Jurgens is The Giant, the villain who has heiress Karin Dor as his target for killing. He even planned a plane crash just to eliminate her. Karin’s uncle is Adolfo Celi, Rupert Davies plays a Kommissar (Der Kommissar?) and a henchman was played by… real-life villain Klaus Kinski. 

Of course all the pictures “inspired” by 60’s Bond aren’t quite as polished yet the ones I’ve seen are almost always fun, filled w/ exotic locations, groovy music, wild moments, a protagonist who’s a cad, a fetching leading lady-which Dor certainly was-and satisfying action. This fit the bill; the villain’s lair tickled me pink. While not my favorite of its time, it still had a wacky gadget or two, at least one elaborate death, a location unique to me (the seaside resort town now known as Portoroz, Slovenia), and admittedly at times too convoluted for its own, Target for Killing still was a fun time.