Hot Enough For June (1964/Network U.K./Region Two/2/PAL DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: B-
PLEASE NOTE: This DVD set can only be
operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Two/2/PAL
format software and can be ordered from our friends at Network U.K. at the
website address provided at the end of the review or at finer retailers.
A smart
spoof of the Spy Craze just as Goldfinger
was an international hit, Ralph Thomas’ Hot
Enough For June (1964) is written by no less than Lukas Heller (Flight Of The Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, Monte Walsh, Hush… Hush
Sweet Charlotte) as MI-6 replaces what is implied to be a killed “007” with
an unemployed writer (Dirk Bogarde) out of an unemployment office to go on a
mission without him knowing it, shades of North
By Northwest. Not an outright comedy
like later Bond spoofs, this is not a direct spoof and a lost gem of the cycle.
While in
Prague, he finds out he is being duped and falls for a pretty woman (successful
Italian actress Sylva Koscina) and is sort of like Charade with a different approach to wit. Helping the fun, twisted spy tale in the cast
include impressive performances by Leo McKern, Robert Morley, Roger Delgado,
Eric Pohlmann and a pre-Girl From
U.N.C.L.E. Noel Harrison. This is
also one of Bogarde’s best commercial turns and Thomas would go on to try and
revive Bond forerunner Bulldog Drummond in two films in the Bond mode: Deadlier Than The Male and Some Girls Do. All in all, this is a must-see for Action and
Spy fans.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 can be on the soft side, but the great camera
work of Director of Photography Ernest Stewart, B.S.C., comes prior to his
incredible work on the TV classic The
Avengers and is as good looking a shoot as any of the films in the
cycle. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono has a
few harsh moments, but for the most part, it sounds good for its age. Extras include three stills sections and the
original theatrical trailer.
As noted above, you can order this PAL DVD import
exclusively from Network U.K. at:
http://www.networkdvd.net/
or
www.networkdvd.co.uk
- Nicholas Sheffo
