OUR MAN IN MARRAKESH/BANG! BANG! YOUR DEAD__

UK, 1966, 92 minutes, Colour.
Tony Randall, Senta Berger, Herbert Lom, Wilfrid Hyde- White, Terry- Thomas, Gregoire Aslan, John Le Mesurier, Klaus Kinski, Margaret Lee.
Directed by Don Sharp.

Our Man in Marrakesh is a British- American co-production of the 1960s. It was directed by Tasmanian-born Don Sharp who, after a career in acting, moved to direction, many small budget films – his most prominent films being thrillers like Callan and Hennessy, remakes of The Four Feathers and The 39 Steps, as well as the Alistair Mac Lean film, Bear Island.

The film has exotic locations rather beautifully filmed which gives a quality to the film. And it is peopled by quite a number of character actors, many of them popular British actors including a cameo by Terry- Thomas. However, the star is an American, Tony Randall, best known for his role as Oscar in the television version of The Odd Couple. The leading lady is a very attractive Senta Berger. Of interest for film buffs is the presence of Klaus Kinski in his pre-Hertzog days, just as sinister but with, it would seem, a dubbed voice. Herbert Lom and Burt Kwouk are in the film after the success in Pink Panther films.

There is a political background, bribery of members of the United Nations, a mysterious courier bringing a cheque the $2 million leading to a mystery about the courier’s identity, the sudden appearance of an Eton-educated playboy who has to stay in Morocco to enjoy his fortunate (Terry- Thomas) and a final climactic fight and shootout.

1. British style comedy drama? British character actors? American and European leads?

2. The importance of the locations, Marrakesh, the city itself in the different areas, the desert and mountains, the compounds? The musical score?

3. The blend of the serious, the comic, the spoof of adventures?

4. The narrator, the situation, Casablanca, the bus, the six possible suspects on the bus, their briefcases?

5. The crowd, the killing of Philippe, Casimir and Jonquil, the hiding of the body, transferring it to different hotel rooms?

6. Casimir, sinister, wealthy, manipulative, the vote in the United Nations, his wanting the bribe? Jonquil and the others as his henchman, doing the dirty work, the murders?

7. The group arriving in Marrakesh? Audiences guessing who was the courier? The two British travellers and their alibis? Kyra and her background, glamour, lies? Andrew and his lie about Iran oil, planning a new hotel?

8. The hotel rooms, the body, Andrew and Kyra interactions, not going to the police? The story about Philippe? Kyra and her continually telling stories? The dangers? The truth about Philippe? The dinner at the hotel, the various suspects?

9. The meeting with Casimir, the escape, taking the wrong briefcase, the long chase, over the roofs, getting the car, into the desert after the roadblocks? Encountering Achmed, his truck, the chase through the mountains, getting them to leap out, his own jump, the truck crashing, Jonquil’s thinking they were all dead?

10. Andrew and Kyra, the walk in the desert, the sudden appearance of the warriors, their capture, being taken to the compound, meeting with El Caid, Terry- Thomas’s style? His background, leisure, money, his plan, calling the police?

11. Mr Lillywhite, the suspect, with Casimir, the fact that he was an income tax collector?

12. Fairbrother, the real courier, the set up for the exchange of money and documents?

13. The plan, Casimir anticipating, Andrew and his coming late? Meeting Achmed and his helping? The mixup with the briefcases and the truth?

14. Confrontations, Achmed and his men attacking, the fights, the shootings?

15. This kind of spoof in the era of the early James Bond films?