Our Man in Marrakesh (released in North America as Bang! Bang! You're Dead!) is a 1966 British comedy spy film shot in Morocco produced and co-written by Harry Alan Towers, directed by Don Sharp and starring Tony Randall, Herbert Lom and Senta Berger.[2][3]
| Our Man in Marrakesh | |
|---|---|
 British cinema poster | |
| Directed by | Don Sharp |
| Written by | Peter Yeldham |
| Based on | original story by Peter Welbeck (Harry Alan Towers) |
| Produced by | Harry Alan Towers |
| Starring | Tony Randall Senta Berger Herbert Lom Wilfrid Hyde-White Terry-Thomas |
| Cinematography | Michael Reed |
| Edited by | Teddy Darvas |
| Music by | Malcolm Lockyer |
Production company | Marrakesh Film |
| Distributed by | Anglo-Amalgamated American International Pictures (US) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
One of six travellers who catch the bus from Casablanca airport to Marrakesh is carrying $2 million to pay a powerful local man (Herbert Lom) to fix United Nations votes on behalf of an unnamed nation. But not even the powerful man knows which of them it is - and his background checks reveal that at least three of them aren't who they claim to be. As agents from other nations may be among them, he and his henchmen have to be very careful until the courier chooses to reveal himself - or herself...
Main cast edit
- Tony Randall as Andrew Jessel
- Senta Berger as Kyra Stanovy
- Terry-Thomas as El Caid
- Herbert Lom as Mr Casimir
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Arthur Fairbrother
- Grégoire Aslan as Achmed
- John Le Mesurier as George Lillywhite
- Klaus Kinski as Jonquil
- Margaret Lee as Samia Voss
- Emile Stemmler as Hotel clerk
- Helen Sanguinetti as Madame Bouseny
- Francisco Sánchez as Martinez
- William Sanguinetti as Police chief
- Hassan Essakali as Motorcycle policeman
- Keith Peacock as Philippe
- Burt Kwouk as the Import Manager
Production edit
Writer Yeldham and director Sharp were both Australians who worked several times with Harry Alan Towers.[4] Sharp said "it had a cast which showed you where the money had come from." The film was shot in Morocco using "frozen" funds owed to Warner Bros. Sharp says just before filming started Warner's revealed that the exchange rate meant their funds would not cover the cost for the whole film so Towers had to scramble to raise additional financing. This involved Towers arranging for suitcases of cash to be smuggled into the country.[5]
Reception edit
Our Man in Marrakesh opened in London on 5 May 1966, the same day as A Man Could Get Killed and the day before Modesty Blaise. This caused the critic in The Times to write a combined review titled "Humorous variations on theme of the secret agent", where Our Man in Marrakesh is noted for having a story similar to A Man Could Get Killed, but comparatively lacking in wit. However, the film gets some credit for a colourful chase through Marrakesh's dyers' quarter.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b The Times, 5 May 166, page 20: Humorous variations on theme of the secret agent - found in The Times Digital Archive 2014-07-20
- ^ Hal Erickson (2011). "Our Man in Marrakesh". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
- ^ OUR MAN IN MARRAKESH Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 33, Iss. 384, (Jan 1, 1966): 96.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (27 July 2019). "Unsung Aussie Filmmakers: Don Sharp – A Top 25". Filmink.
- ^ Sharp, Don (2 November 1993). "Don Sharp Side 4" (Interview). Interviewed by Teddy Darvas and Alan Lawson. London: History Project. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
External links edit
- Our Man in Marrakesh at the British Film Institute[better source needed]
- Our Man in Marrakesh at IMDb
- Our Man in Marrakesh at the TCM Movie Database
- Our Man in Marrakesh at Letterboxd
- Review of film at Cinema Retro
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