MAROC 7

US, 1967, 91 minutes, Colour.
Gene Barry, Elsa Martinelli, Cyd Charisse, Denholm Elliot, Alexandra Stewart, Leslie Phillips.
Directed by Gerry O’ Hara.

Maroc 7 is the type of lavish thriller-caper popular in the mid 60s. Much of the impetus for this kind of entertainment came from the popular success of the James Bond films.

This film has lavish production values including spectacular location Panavision scenery. It also has one of the oddest mixtures for its cast, ranging from American Cyd Charisse (acting less well than she dances), solid hero Gene Barry with Elsa Martinelli as a criminal model and Leslie Phillips trying not to be too comic as a crooked photographer. Denholm Elliott assumes an accent for his role as a police officer. There is a great deal of glamour of the swinging '60s, English style (a feature of the films of writer director, Gerry O'Hara). It is passable entertainment for an undemanding audience.

1. The popularity of this kind of caper adventure in the '60s? Lavish style? Production values? Passable entertainment?
2. The atmosphere of swinging London in the '60s, the world of fashion and affluence?

3. The transition to Morocco and the use of Moroccan locations? City, desert, isolated fort? Editing and pace?

4. Music, the party music of the period, the title theme? The reality and unreality of this kind of crime story? The exotic bestseller characters? The undercover policeman? The world of international intrigue? Perennially popular ingredients?

5. The focus on Louise? Cyd Charisse, her glamour, her models and her hold over them, her photographer, the parties, Simon intruding and her taking him on? The magazine? Her background as a jewel thief? Her plans for Morocco? The success, the failure, the violent confrontation?

6. Simon as hero? tough American, loner, undercover agent, insinuating himself into Louise's house, party, her accepting him as a thief? As partner? His participation in the events? The contact with Inspector Barrada? With Michelle? His success in playing a double game? The final difficulties with the medallion, the violence at the Berber fort? Michelle's disappearance and his joining her in Tahiti? A cynically ironic ending?

7. Claudia and her glamour, sinister aspects, participation in the plot, using her wiles with Simon? Her involvement in the final violence?

8. Raymond and his skill as a photographer, his work as a criminal? The sketch of the police ? Inspector Barrada and his work, suspicions, involvement? The help from Michelle - and her story of Tahiti? Her glamour, attractiveness? Her taking the medallion and escaping?

9. The sketch of the models and the world of fashion models? International travel? Photograph session? The mixture of hard work and glamour?

9. The amoral world of international crime, cover ups, affluence and glamour? The perennially popular adventure and soap opera material?