FATHOM

US, 1967, 99 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Franciosa, Raquel Welch, Ronald Fraser, Richard Briers, Greta Chi, Tom Adams.
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson.

A surprisingly entertaining and enjoyable spy spoof. The dialogue and the situations as well as the characterisations are quite tongue in check. Direction is by Leslie H. Martinson, noted for minor films, television and action comedies. The film isn a vehicle for Raquel Welch and she does a take-off of a feminine James Bond very we11 indeed. Tony Franciona is a conventional hero. Clive Revill is particularly enjoyable as the villain, with Ronald Fraser and a young Richard Briers rounding out the mystery. Entertaining and colourful in itself, it is a humorous glance at the popular spy films of the sixties and a good poking at them.

Fine Spanish locations, photography by Douglas Slocombe and a score by Johnny Dankworth.

1.A popular spy spoof – from the James Bond and imitation era? A film of the 60s? A vehicle for Raquel Welch?

2.The Spanish backgrounds, the widescreen scenery, the coast, the towns? A feel of Spain? The musical score by Johnny Dankworth?

3.The introduction to Fathom, the jokes about her name? Packing her parachute? Abducted by Timothy Webb? Campbell and his explanations? Her parachuting into Merriwether’s house? The dead body, the photos? Her riding with Merriwether, disposing of the body? Back in the town, the encounter with Mike at the hotel? Her mission from Timothy, her going to see Serapkin on his boat, the explosion, Timothy and his pursuit, Serapkin throwing the case overboard? The pursuit in helicopter by Merriwether? Her being rescued again, in the bullring, pursued by Merriwether, the bull? The build-up to the confusion? Her having to cope? Mike and the recovery of the jewel? The revelation that he was the murderer? Her being rescued, finding the jewel in her case? On the train, the three parties present, Merriwether jumping off, Timothy taking her to Campbell, in the plane, the revelation of the truth? Serapkin and his anger? In the plane with Campbell, the fights, Merriwether pursuing, the shooting, her piloting the plane through the mountains? Her having his passport – and a happy ending?

4.Merriwether, suave, seeming the criminal, the dead body, riding and disposing of the body, pursuing Fathom, in the bullring, saving her? Pursuit in the helicopter? On the train – and his story, the irony that he was telling the truth? The final pursuit in the plane?

5.Campbell, bogus, the card, the mission, the H-bomb explanation? Webb as his assistant? Webb and his pursuit, upsetting the boat with Serapkin? The revelation of the truth? The fight in the plane?

6.Mike, the hotel, welcoming Fathom, the photos, his lens, the revelation of the truth?

7.The Chinese KGB officer, her employing Merriwether, the recovery of the jewel at the end?

8.Serapkin, the heat, his style, the boat, sexual advances, his being in the boat, throwing the case overboard? Appearing on the train? His defeat?

9.A popular spoof of the kinds of films that were popular in the mid-6os?