THE LAST GRENADE
UK, 1969, 93 minutes, Colour.
Stanley Baker, Alex Cord, Honor Blackman, Richard Attenborough, Rafer Johnson, Andrew Keir, Ray Brooks, Julian Glover, John Thaw.
Directed by Gordon Flemyng.
The Last Grenade is an action thriller with excellent credentials - which does not quite measure up to them. Director Gordon Flemyng directed a number of thrillers including the American heist film The Split, music is by John Dankworth. There is a strong English cast joined by American Alex Cord. The film has the atmosphere of the mercenary activity in Africa of the '60s and capitalises on the ruthlessness of the adventurers tracking one another down and exploring vengeance. The Hong Kong settings are quite exotic. Stanley Baker is strongly persuasive in the central role. Alex Cord has a much more flamboyant melodramatic role. Comparisons could be made with the Rod Taylor vehicle The Mercenaries, made at the same time, and the later film with Burton, Harris, Moore, The Wild Geese.
1. An entertaining action thriller? Presenting the atmosphere of mercenaries in the '60s? Africa? Hong Kong? British interests? American interests? The Red Chinese? Credible international fighting?
2. The background of Africa in the opening scenes - colour photography, action? The change to Britain and its sober style? The transfer to the more exotic Hong Kong? The reliance on special effects and editing for the chase and the confrontations? The atmospheric score?
3. The conventional presentation of mercenaries in Africa? Ruthlessness and betrayal? The lone hero getting permission to pursue his enemy -privately? The colonial atmosphere of Hong Kong? Clashes with the Chinese? The background of the conventional romance? How well were the conventions blended for this action film?
4. The background of Africa? Harry Grigsby and his mercenary unit in action? The horror and suddenness of the betrayal? Kip Thompson and his amoral commitments? The credibility of the African scenes? As basis for Grigsby's vengeance?
5. The characterisation of Grigsby? Stanley Baker's dour and relentless pursuit of Thompson? His illness. convalescence, discussing with the Whitehall officials? The visit to the hospital? His payment? The unofficial nature of his mission? His rounding up his associates? How well characterised e.g. Joe Jackson, Gordon McKenzie?. Andy Royale, Terry Mitchell?
6. The atmosphere of Hong Kong? The sketch of General Whitely? Richard Attenborough's very English style? His work in Hong Kong, his administration? Relationship with Grigsby? Relationship with Katherine? The strained marriage? Katherine's falling in love with Grigsby? Her initial antagonism? The weekend together? Her decision to leave her husband? His way of receiving the news? The car accident and her death? The discussions between the two men?
7. The detail of Grigsby's pursuing Thompson? The action sequences? Grigsby's men being outwitted? Deaths? Thompson's fanaticism and use of the Chinese?
8. Grigsby's decision to give up? Katherine's death? His final confrontation of Thompson? Death? Killing Thompson with his explosive?
9. The character of Thompson - credible American mercenary? Unscrupulous? Quick-witted strategy? Poetic justice of his death?
10. The perennial popularity of this kind of action adventure? Basic popular themes of war. peace, violence. vengeance, romance? How good an example of its kind?
