So..... Andrew Jessel (T. Randall) checks into a hotel in Marrakesh, and we see a (dead) body fall out of his closet. Some chick barges into his room, and talks him out of calling the cops. Kyra Stanovy (Senta Berger) is involved in this somehow, and we have to figure out how. For Randall, this was still a couple years before Odd Couple. Also in here is Herb Lom, you will recognize as Commissioner Dreyfus from all the Pink Panther films. Look for Brit actors Wilfrid Hyde-White and Terry Thomas (from the hilarious Mad Mad World....). A lot of talking and posturing, but not a lot of action for the first half. SOMEONE here has two million dollars in a suitcase to buy a vote. Jessel seems to be caught up in some spy trap. When confronted by the bad guys, we see him in one of the more "tough" roles he played. The fancy hotel at which he stays also seems to be the same hotel that Patsy & Eddy stay at in Ab-Fab. More dead bodies. And for a while, we can't tell who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Pretty entertaining film. Dr. No and Russia with Love had already been made into movies, so this was kind of a knock off of those. Randall had just made all those films with Doris Day & Rock Hudson. Written by Harry Towers, who had produced and written the screen plays for Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians".
17 Reviews
A funny thing happened on the way from Casablanca.
mark.waltz3 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The sight of Terry-Thomas in traditional Muslim garb is enough of a laugh for me to recommend this spy comedy with a completely serious Tony Randall showing that he had what it takes to be a leading man even though the film is a bit bizarre and silly. Traveling on business to Marrakesh, Randall doesn't expect to find a dead man with a knife in his back in his hotel room, and this leads him on on adventure with beautiful Senta Berger where he runs afoul of the sinister Herbert Lom and gets into all sorts of wacky situations.
This is not the Tony Randall sidekick of the Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies or his Oscar Madison of TV fame. His character is straightforward and even quite virile as he gets a love scene with Berger and shows what great shape he was in. Berger plays a character where you're never sure what she's up to, and like the many films of this nature made in the 1960's, there's a ton of detail that might slide past you if you're not paying full attention in spots.
The very pretty (and scantily clad) Margaret Lee manages to steal a few scenes away from Lom, on a break from his Chief Inspector Dreyfuss role. Burt Kwouk, also from the "Pink Panther" series, appears briefly with his unmistakable voice immediately identifying who he is. Wilfred Hyde White rounds out the cast of familiar character actors. Great location footage makes this gorgeous looking movie that you can enjoy even if you are a bit confused here and there.
This is not the Tony Randall sidekick of the Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies or his Oscar Madison of TV fame. His character is straightforward and even quite virile as he gets a love scene with Berger and shows what great shape he was in. Berger plays a character where you're never sure what she's up to, and like the many films of this nature made in the 1960's, there's a ton of detail that might slide past you if you're not paying full attention in spots.
The very pretty (and scantily clad) Margaret Lee manages to steal a few scenes away from Lom, on a break from his Chief Inspector Dreyfuss role. Burt Kwouk, also from the "Pink Panther" series, appears briefly with his unmistakable voice immediately identifying who he is. Wilfred Hyde White rounds out the cast of familiar character actors. Great location footage makes this gorgeous looking movie that you can enjoy even if you are a bit confused here and there.
Exotic Harry Alan Towers effort with a good cast and bad script
Leofwine_draca25 February 2015
Quickie producer Harry Alan Towers had a set routine when making films in the 1960s: he'd assemble an all-star cast, whisk them off to an exotic (typically hot) location and proceed to film a sub-par story designed to make maximum use of the familiar faces he'd gathered together. Such films are invariably disappointing, although film fans will probably want to watch them for the casts alone.
OUR MAN IN MARRAKESH is a case in point, a quirky caper that mixes together three different genres. The first is a spy flick, with the rubber-face Tony Randall playing a man mixed up with scheming villains and beautiful femme fatales (Senta Berger). The second is a Hitchcock 'wrong man' thriller, with plenty of nods to the director's output a la THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. Finally, Towers can't resist adding a little 'whodunit' aspect to make the most of his famous cast members, although technically this is more of a 'who is it' as identity plays a key part.
Inevitably the script is disappointing and the various action sequences are routine to say the least, but the cast members make this worthwhile. Herbert Lom is the villain and Klaus Kinski his creepy henchman; also along for the ride are an out-of-place Wilfrid Hyde-White, Terry-Thomas, and John Le Mesurier, their upper lips stiff and quivering with indignation. OUR MAN IN MARRAKESH isn't particularly bad - although the comedy has certainly dated - but in comparison to Bond or Hitch it just looks dumb.
OUR MAN IN MARRAKESH is a case in point, a quirky caper that mixes together three different genres. The first is a spy flick, with the rubber-face Tony Randall playing a man mixed up with scheming villains and beautiful femme fatales (Senta Berger). The second is a Hitchcock 'wrong man' thriller, with plenty of nods to the director's output a la THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. Finally, Towers can't resist adding a little 'whodunit' aspect to make the most of his famous cast members, although technically this is more of a 'who is it' as identity plays a key part.
Inevitably the script is disappointing and the various action sequences are routine to say the least, but the cast members make this worthwhile. Herbert Lom is the villain and Klaus Kinski his creepy henchman; also along for the ride are an out-of-place Wilfrid Hyde-White, Terry-Thomas, and John Le Mesurier, their upper lips stiff and quivering with indignation. OUR MAN IN MARRAKESH isn't particularly bad - although the comedy has certainly dated - but in comparison to Bond or Hitch it just looks dumb.
Good sixties popcorn spy fun
vjetorix6 November 2002
`I think there's been some foul play' says Tony Randall upon discovering a dead body with a knife in its back stashed in the closet of his hotel room. Comedy is hard and although this one spends too much time as a chase movie, it is still largely successful thanks to a great cast and good script.
Director Don Sharp, in his only spy outing, has crafted an enjoyable and funny film that doesn't resort too often to slapstick or other forms of cheap laughs. It manages to tread the line between humor and danger keeping the viewer interested enough to evoke plenty of hearty chuckles. A light and entertaining spy comedy, this is one of the best of the bunch.
Director Don Sharp, in his only spy outing, has crafted an enjoyable and funny film that doesn't resort too often to slapstick or other forms of cheap laughs. It manages to tread the line between humor and danger keeping the viewer interested enough to evoke plenty of hearty chuckles. A light and entertaining spy comedy, this is one of the best of the bunch.
Not bad for a Towers film
malcolmgsw30 December 2019
A fun way to spend a couple of hours
ArtVandelayImporterExporter18 March 2019
Tony Randall has been a favorite of mine since his recurring appearances on David Letterman's late-night talk shows. The guy was such a good sport about putting over any gag the writers came up with, deploying equal parts debonnair charm and lack of self-seriousness.
He shows the same sensibility here - his character knows he's in a spot of bother, works hard to work his way out of it in the same charming way Cary Grant does in North by Northwest, mixes in a fair amount of sly humour, yet somehow manages to avoid any campiness or ham. Director Don Sharpe helmed The Avengers TV show with a similar touch.
The whole ''money for votes at the UN" plot is basicaly a McGuffin. It just helps move things along, layers of the onion peeling away in a pleasant fashion.
The location shooting was a pleasant surprise, too, given the reportedly small budget.
This was a fun way to spend time in front of the tube re-visiting the work of an old ''friend."
Failed Hitchcock imitation at least has a jaunty Randall and scintillating Berger...
moonspinner554 November 2014
British-made film (released under a variety of different titles around the world) concerns an American hotel-builder, newly-arrived in Morocco, who becomes involved in a $2M plot to change votes at the United Nations. Despite poster art designed to look like a spy spoof (with Randall an unlikely substitute for James Bond), this minor, droll offering is more in keeping with the latter-day Hitchcock films ("North by Northwest", in particular), with the dryly-resolved star getting deeper into hot water with every plot turn. Senta Berger is a very attractive mystery woman, and she matches up surprisingly well with Randall (grounded and more affable than usual), but the supporting cast of old pros is never given anything especially exciting to do. Director Don Sharp, working from a wayward, rudderless screenplay by Peter Yeldham, does decent work, yet the finale is confusing instead of suspenseful, and the overall air of familiarity is wearing. ** from ****
Money, Money, Who's Got the Money?
richardchatten26 October 2019
One of the better Harry Alan Towers travelogues, probably because after this they just kept getting worse and worse (Towers should have retained Don Sharp to direct and commissioned half decent scripts).
Even here one's attention tends to wander during the endless scampering about exotic locations that passes for a plot. But at least it's largely played for laughs, Tony Randall & Senta Berger are attractive leads, Herbert Lom an excellent villain and even Margaret Lee (who gets an "introducing" credit despite having been busy in movies for several years, admittedly not ones anybody was likely to remember her from) is slightly more animated than in her later films.
And of course there's Terry-Thomas's amusing late guest appearance as El Caid, AKA "the oily cad".
Even here one's attention tends to wander during the endless scampering about exotic locations that passes for a plot. But at least it's largely played for laughs, Tony Randall & Senta Berger are attractive leads, Herbert Lom an excellent villain and even Margaret Lee (who gets an "introducing" credit despite having been busy in movies for several years, admittedly not ones anybody was likely to remember her from) is slightly more animated than in her later films.
And of course there's Terry-Thomas's amusing late guest appearance as El Caid, AKA "the oily cad".
Bang, Bang, dead on arrival!
brogmiller16 March 2021
The alternative title of this simply dreadful film reveals the level of mentality at which it is aimed.
It is undeniably one of the worst of the spy spoofs that cluttered up sixties cinema. Despite the presence of some eccentric characters and a ravishing Austrian this whole enterprise is doomed from the outset by a feeble script and an atrocious score. Having previously endured the ghastly 'Brides of Fu-Manchu' I vowed never again to watch a film directed by Don Sharp but I am obviously a sucker for punishment.
This opus is actually worth less than nought but warrants 'un point' for the presence of the immaculate Herbert Lom who succeeds once again in rising above his material.
It is undeniably one of the worst of the spy spoofs that cluttered up sixties cinema. Despite the presence of some eccentric characters and a ravishing Austrian this whole enterprise is doomed from the outset by a feeble script and an atrocious score. Having previously endured the ghastly 'Brides of Fu-Manchu' I vowed never again to watch a film directed by Don Sharp but I am obviously a sucker for punishment.
This opus is actually worth less than nought but warrants 'un point' for the presence of the immaculate Herbert Lom who succeeds once again in rising above his material.
INTRODUCING MARGARET LEE?
larryanderson18 March 2023
This movie starts by "introducing" Margaret Lee, even though she has made several notable movies in the past few years. Successful titles like Samson and the Sea Beast and From the Orient With Fury. Her real name is Margaret Box , which might have been a more noticed name in show biz, than Lee. In this movie she is just the girlfriend of Herbert Lom. She repeatedly suggest that "we go and lay down somewhere". The move just goes along from scene to scene with no real story unfolding. Harry Alan Towers produced the movie and we see his real life wife. Maria Rohm in the carriage during the opening scene. Watch it for fun and the scenery. I can't believe they smashed up the beautiful 1964 Chev near the beginning but used it later in the film.
Our Man in Marrakesh
Prismark1017 February 2020
Our Man in Marrakesh is a comedy spy adventure. It is less a spoof of Bond and more of a homage to Hitchcock.
It is the wrong man adventure. American Andrew Jessel (Tony Randall) arrives in Marrakech for business purposes and finds a dead body in his wardrobe. Luckily mysterious femme fatale spy Kyra Stanovy (Senta Berger) is on hand to help him hide the body. She also helps Andrew get away from henchman Jonquil (Klaus Kinski) sent by well connected criminal kingpin Casimir (Herbert Lom.)
Casimir thinks Andrew could be one of the travellers who has arrived to Marrakech on the bus carrying a suitcase full of money to fix a UN vote.
Despite the location shooting in Morocco. This is a low budget film with a mundane script and a lack of thrills.
It does have plenty of back projection. Kinski and Casimir are effective villains. There are a couple of beautiful ladies, several familiar British character actors. Randall gamely does his best but he is no Cary Grant.
It is the wrong man adventure. American Andrew Jessel (Tony Randall) arrives in Marrakech for business purposes and finds a dead body in his wardrobe. Luckily mysterious femme fatale spy Kyra Stanovy (Senta Berger) is on hand to help him hide the body. She also helps Andrew get away from henchman Jonquil (Klaus Kinski) sent by well connected criminal kingpin Casimir (Herbert Lom.)
Casimir thinks Andrew could be one of the travellers who has arrived to Marrakech on the bus carrying a suitcase full of money to fix a UN vote.
Despite the location shooting in Morocco. This is a low budget film with a mundane script and a lack of thrills.
It does have plenty of back projection. Kinski and Casimir are effective villains. There are a couple of beautiful ladies, several familiar British character actors. Randall gamely does his best but he is no Cary Grant.
A reasonable facsimile of Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant
simonize-115 January 2008
BANG BANG YOU'RE DEAD aka Our Man In Marrakesh seems a low budget homage to the talents of director Alfred Hitchcock and actor Cary Grant. Imagine, if you will, a blending of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and NORTH BY NORTHWEST, and you might have BANG BANG.
Tony Randall is very appealing as the much harried, put upon innocent who is caught up in a series of misadventures (his character Jessel actually says something like "We're suspected of being murderers, and we're being chased by murderers"). Randall is certainly not someone you would cast as the romantic lead, but you can readily accept that he and Senta Berger will become lovers.
Ms Berger's characters is very fond and adept at telling lies, and shaping the truth as she sees fit. She does it well, and is charming, and everyone likes her, not least the wily Arab truck driver Achmed (Gregoire Aslan), who twice saves the couple.
I had mistaken Margaret Lee for another Italian starlet but apparently she was born in Wolverhampton, England in 1943. She plays the sex kitten very well, and again, has some good lines.
The script is actually very good, the dialogue especially, with more memorable lines than I expected. The line-up of character actors is also fine, though Klaus Kinski's thug is nowhere as effective as the one he displayed in GRAND SLAM.
Locations are well chosen, the action good for its day, and the music by Malcolm Lockyer (someone who doesn't seem to have worked much in film) catches the flavour of Marrakesh, Morocco.
All in all, highly recommended (If you can find it!)
Tony Randall is very appealing as the much harried, put upon innocent who is caught up in a series of misadventures (his character Jessel actually says something like "We're suspected of being murderers, and we're being chased by murderers"). Randall is certainly not someone you would cast as the romantic lead, but you can readily accept that he and Senta Berger will become lovers.
Ms Berger's characters is very fond and adept at telling lies, and shaping the truth as she sees fit. She does it well, and is charming, and everyone likes her, not least the wily Arab truck driver Achmed (Gregoire Aslan), who twice saves the couple.
I had mistaken Margaret Lee for another Italian starlet but apparently she was born in Wolverhampton, England in 1943. She plays the sex kitten very well, and again, has some good lines.
The script is actually very good, the dialogue especially, with more memorable lines than I expected. The line-up of character actors is also fine, though Klaus Kinski's thug is nowhere as effective as the one he displayed in GRAND SLAM.
Locations are well chosen, the action good for its day, and the music by Malcolm Lockyer (someone who doesn't seem to have worked much in film) catches the flavour of Marrakesh, Morocco.
All in all, highly recommended (If you can find it!)
A turnabout series of events
Apollo15AnnoPianoCatDogSnailAnt27 May 2020
The same mugs appear that appear in all these type of movies and a lot of crazy monkey shyt occurs here of turnabouts getting some briefcase filled with crazy documents or gadgets like in the other prev. movie I review, and just it is a makalooz but it is makalooz for the sake of makalooz, but hey stuff happens which is good enough for fun. Rec. from Eurospy Guide by Matt Blake/David Deal (in the funny list.)
it's not moving a TV
SnoopyStyle9 June 2020
A man is murdered in a Marrakesh Kasbah. Six people board a bus from the Casablanca airport destine for Marrakesh. One of them is carry $2 million to fix an United Nations vote. Andrew Jessel (Tony Randall) is with Iranian oil on leave to see Marrakesh. There are mysterious agents after the carrier. Andrew finds a dead man in his hotel closet and Kyra Stanovy claims their rooms have been switched. It's her boyfriend Philippe and she convinces him to move the body.
Andrew is a sucker and I don't like it. I get the allure of a beautiful woman. She could talk me into moving a TV but moving a dead body is something else. This can't happen unless he's the obvious suspect or that he's a secret agent. It doesn't make sense if he's an innocent nobody and that's what Randall needs to play. With a few fixes, this could be a workable premise. Randall can play the fish-out-of-water with a femme fatale. The pieces are here but it's not as fun when I'm forced to question the premise constantly.
Andrew is a sucker and I don't like it. I get the allure of a beautiful woman. She could talk me into moving a TV but moving a dead body is something else. This can't happen unless he's the obvious suspect or that he's a secret agent. It doesn't make sense if he's an innocent nobody and that's what Randall needs to play. With a few fixes, this could be a workable premise. Randall can play the fish-out-of-water with a femme fatale. The pieces are here but it's not as fun when I'm forced to question the premise constantly.
Expertly rendered spy thriller with humor; great cast
shakspryn1 July 2017
In the 1940s, Bob Hope did some films where he was the innocent guy caught up in a spy mystery, along with a beautiful woman. Those films combined a spy theme with humor. This film offers a similar role for Tony Randall, who is perfect in the part. His great comic timing and abundant energy are a huge plus here. And the script is very good--lots of sharp lines and good byplay between Tony and Senta Berger. For people who gave this movie a low rating, I totally disagree.
In this kind of film, the trick is to combine some good action and suspense with humor. This feat is very, very hard to pull off well, but this film does it--hence I rate it a "10." The outstanding cast gives A-1 support. Also, the many interesting Morocco locations add interest. If you want to see a very well-done 1960s lighthearted spy film with good romance, humor and action, you can't go wrong with this film. I recommend it highly. And--Senta Berger never looked better, or Margaret Lee, too!
In this kind of film, the trick is to combine some good action and suspense with humor. This feat is very, very hard to pull off well, but this film does it--hence I rate it a "10." The outstanding cast gives A-1 support. Also, the many interesting Morocco locations add interest. If you want to see a very well-done 1960s lighthearted spy film with good romance, humor and action, you can't go wrong with this film. I recommend it highly. And--Senta Berger never looked better, or Margaret Lee, too!
"I think there's been some foul play"
bensonmum229 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Local crime boss Mr. Casmir (Herbert Lom) has a briefcase full of important documents to sell. He has an appointment with an unknown courier fresh to Marrakesh carrying $2 million. But which of the six seemingly innocent travelers/vacationers is the courier? When American Andrew Jessel (Tony Randall) stumbles upon a dead body in the closet of his hotel room, he gets mixed up in more intrigue than he bargained for. Jessel joins forces with the beautiful Kyra Stanovy (Senta Berger), a woman who seems incapable of telling the truth, just to survive his holiday in Marrakesh.
Our Man in Marrakesh is a highly enjoyable Euro-spy film mixed with copious amounts of comedy. I mean how can you take things too seriously when your action hero is Tony Randall? Yes that Tony Randall. Not really a he-man or anyone's idea of a spy, huh? But that's part of what makes Our Man in Marrakesh so much fun. Randall plays against type and does so brilliantly. His fish-out-of-water, put-upon nature is perfect for the role of Jessel. One of my favorite lines comes as Jessel discovers the dead body in the closet and proclaims, "I think there's been some foul play." Funny stuff! Randall is joined by one of those all-star casts that, in this case, actually works. Senta Berger, Herbert Lom, Euro-spy fav Margaret Lee, bad guy Klaus Kinski, the always funny Terry-Thomas, and Wilfrid Hyde-White add their considerable talents to the film. Sometimes when you put together one of these casts, things don't gel the way they should. Not here. Everyone comes out looking good. My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen more from Lee and Kinski. But, then again, you can't have everything. Other big pluses from Our Man in Marrakesh include: a well-written, witty script that, fortunately, does not resort to slap stick for its humor; snappy, well-paced direction from Don Sharp; and terrific Moroccan locations. Overall, it's a wonderfully entertaining romp. An 8/10 from me.
Our Man in Marrakesh is a highly enjoyable Euro-spy film mixed with copious amounts of comedy. I mean how can you take things too seriously when your action hero is Tony Randall? Yes that Tony Randall. Not really a he-man or anyone's idea of a spy, huh? But that's part of what makes Our Man in Marrakesh so much fun. Randall plays against type and does so brilliantly. His fish-out-of-water, put-upon nature is perfect for the role of Jessel. One of my favorite lines comes as Jessel discovers the dead body in the closet and proclaims, "I think there's been some foul play." Funny stuff! Randall is joined by one of those all-star casts that, in this case, actually works. Senta Berger, Herbert Lom, Euro-spy fav Margaret Lee, bad guy Klaus Kinski, the always funny Terry-Thomas, and Wilfrid Hyde-White add their considerable talents to the film. Sometimes when you put together one of these casts, things don't gel the way they should. Not here. Everyone comes out looking good. My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen more from Lee and Kinski. But, then again, you can't have everything. Other big pluses from Our Man in Marrakesh include: a well-written, witty script that, fortunately, does not resort to slap stick for its humor; snappy, well-paced direction from Don Sharp; and terrific Moroccan locations. Overall, it's a wonderfully entertaining romp. An 8/10 from me.
Your time machine is waiting!
graham-harvey30 August 2021
This is a great film. Beautiful cinematography captures the look & the time of 1960s Marrakesh. The cast are so likeable & this film has a lightness as we navigate our way through the streets. Marrakech has a timeless aspect to it combined with the look of the world in 1960s fashion, cars, & behaviours. Dont treat this film as a huge event, and you will love it!
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