CONDORMAN

US, 1981, 90 minutes, Colour.
Michael Crawford, Oliver Reed, Barbara Carrera.
Directed by Charles Jarrott.

Condorman shows the Disney Studios moving into the '80s with big budget and spectacle. The film owes a great deal to the comic book heroes of the late 1970s, especially Superman. It also owes a great deal to James Bond. These strands fortunately blend together in comic action thriller. Michael Crawford, adopting an American accent instead of his Some Mother Do 'Ave 'Em accent, is Woody, a writer of comic books who likes to live out his adventures. By accident he becomes embroiled in shenanigans about a defection of a Russian agent, played by the glamorous Barbara Carrera. Oliver Reed snarls as a K.G.B. official. There are very attractive European locations, a number of special effects in the James Bond film style and a gentle spoofing of the action adventure films. The film is ingenious for a young audience who can laugh as well as be excited. Direction is by Charles Jarrott who directed Escape from the Dark and The Last Flight of Noah's Ark for the Disney Studios. He also directed Anne of the Thousand Days, Mary Queen of Scots, Lost Horizon, The Dove, The Other Side of Midnight.

1. An entertaining blend of adventure and humour? Impact for adult audience, younger audiences? Its deriving from so many film styles? How does it stand in comparison with these? Woody as James Bond and Superman combined?

2. Disney production values? Panavision, the variety of spectacular European locations? Action sequences? Stunts? The special effects - especially the vehicles? The Henry Mancini score and Condorman them song?

3. Audience response to the world of Jaws Bond: espionage, glamour, danger, exotic locations? A hero audiences can identify with? Quest and rescue? The serious tones of international espionage? The comic book characters and style? The spoofing of espionage films? The humour of the credits with the cartoon character transferring then to Woody flying from the Eiffel Tower?

4. Michael Crawford's performance as Woody - in the opening on the Eiffel Tower, his decision to try out all his comic book adventures, his semi-serious tone to his work? An American writer, his world-wide audience? The scene with the European children admiring his comics and wanting to identify Laser Lady? The scenes of his comics and his drawing them? Incorporating comic adventures into the film? The variety of his plans and imagination - and their being incorporated into his real mission? The intrusion of real life into comics?

5. Woody and his style, his career, visit to Europe, friendship with Harry, the mission to Istanbul and his trench coat? The visit to Istanbul - the fiery drink, his comic fight with the toughs, the rescue of Natalia? His success and her wanting him to take her to the West? His drawing his experiences, especially Laser Lady? The C.I.A. taking advantage of Laser Lady to enrol him in a further mission?

6. Natalia and her glamour, Russian background, admiring Woody, her return to Moscow, the encounter with Krakov and his wanting to subject her to discipline?

7. Oliver Reed and his suave snarling as K.G.B. officer? Conventional characterisation? His assistants. especially the Death Squad and the driver with the artificial eye? The adventures of the crack squad and their skill in tracking down Woody, the spectacular stunts? The playboy style of Krakov especially with his visit to Monte Carlo?

8. Harry as the comic assistant, his cover at the C.I.A., his recruiting Woody, participation in Woody's adventures?

9. Yugoslavia and Woody's disguise, the caravan, the village and its market place and everybody scattering and hiding, the death squad, the spectacular chase, the transformation from caravan to speeding car, to hover craft? Italy and peacefulness - arrest, prison, Harry's disguise in rescuing them? The wedding and Natalia's disruption of the wedding for the escape? The ski lift and the shots? Natalia captured, Woody and Harry escaping?

10. Monte Carlo and Woody's decision to save Natalia? The casino sequences and his disguise as the sheikh? Harry and Woody at the Russian reception? Natalia’s seeming not to want to go? Her wanting to protect Woody? The diversion? The rescue? The spectacular speedboat chase? The glass-eyed henchman and his pursuit with Krakov? The crash? Krakov wanting vengeance?

11. The Americans outwitting the Russians? The return to America and Natalia adapting to American ways? Baseball match? Woody's continual descriptions of the American lifestyle - in contrast to the Europeans and the Russians? The possibility of a happy ending or a sequel?

12. Entertainment value, the film's using stereotypes and conventions and making them very enjoyable? Audiences identifying with the characters and proceedings? The entertainment of 'what if...?'?