CALL HIM MR SHATTER

UK/Hong Kong, 1974, 90 minutes, Colour.
Stuart Whitman, T1 Lung, Lily Li, Peter Cushing.
Directed by Michael Carreras.

Call Him Mr. Shatter is one of several films of the mid 170s made with British production values and finance combined with the growing film industry in Hong Kong. American and British stars teamed with local Chinese celebrities in strange blends of western thriller techniques and the martial arts films of the east. The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires was an example of this kind of co-production. Its star was Peter Cushing and he appears here with Stuart Whitman. They direction is by the English Michael Carreras and Hammer Studios. Interesting action adventure with no great merit and shows the styles of Hammer Studios meeting the popular styles of the east.

1. How enjoyable an action film? The value of this kind of action film?

2. The tradition of Hammer Studios with horror and gore? The encounter with the Hong Kong martial arts films? How happy was the blending? In plot and style? For audiences? English attitudes and Hong Kong attitudes?

3. The atmosphere of exotic Africa and Hong Kong? The exotic aspects of the modern world? Atmosphere for this kind of thriller?

4. The background of African revolution? Corruption? Drugs and big international finance syndicates?

5. The impact of the opening and the assassination?

6. The character of Shatter? The American mercenary? Seeing himself as a modern knight? The righter of wrongs? His cruelty as a hero? The individual as victim of the big syndicates?

7. The presentation of the syndicate? Laber and his values? The style of the syndicate? Cruelty, international finance. power, deaths? Assassinations? The Hong Kong hold on Africa? The African leader in league with the syndicate?

8. The contrast of the British and the security offers? The deals?

9. The people of Hong Kong? The girl and her helping Shatter, the boy? Their contribution to the action? The human elements of the plot?

10. The atmosphere of death? The assassination, the people blown up in the hotel, the girl's death? The fall of the villains?

11. The person and character of Shatter? Humane or comic-book style?


12. The appeal to audiences of this kind of film?