Was this film ever funny? It's not funny in 2014 and I doubt it was funny when it was released in 1967.
Ostensibly a spoof of the James Bond movies, it is incredibly silly and dull. It is so bad you would think that the producers deliberately made it a dud to prank the paying public.
Worst thing is, it has an incredible cast: Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, David Niven, William Holden, Woody Allen, Ursula Andress, Deborah Kerr, John Huston, Jean-Paul Belmondo, George Raft, Jacqueline Bisset, Ronnie Corbett, Peter O'Toole (very briefly). I can understand David Niven acting in something dull - it's what he does - but I would have thought the great Orson Welles would have far more sense and taste than that.
Given all this talent, there is only one scene and one performance that shines: Woody Allen in the underground lair scene. You can see his genius for physical comedy shine through. It was the only bright moment in a very dreary movie.
Part of the problem might be the inordinate amount of writers and directors: 10 writers, 5 directors. You get the feeling that you are watching dozens of unrelated scenes and stories all stitched together without any real continuity. That's what 10 writers and 5 directors will do... (even when the directors include John Huston and the writers include Woody Allen, Billy Wilder, Joseph Heller and Peter Sellers).
Avoid. You'll save two hours of your life...
Ostensibly a spoof of the James Bond movies, it is incredibly silly and dull. It is so bad you would think that the producers deliberately made it a dud to prank the paying public.
Worst thing is, it has an incredible cast: Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, David Niven, William Holden, Woody Allen, Ursula Andress, Deborah Kerr, John Huston, Jean-Paul Belmondo, George Raft, Jacqueline Bisset, Ronnie Corbett, Peter O'Toole (very briefly). I can understand David Niven acting in something dull - it's what he does - but I would have thought the great Orson Welles would have far more sense and taste than that.
Given all this talent, there is only one scene and one performance that shines: Woody Allen in the underground lair scene. You can see his genius for physical comedy shine through. It was the only bright moment in a very dreary movie.
Part of the problem might be the inordinate amount of writers and directors: 10 writers, 5 directors. You get the feeling that you are watching dozens of unrelated scenes and stories all stitched together without any real continuity. That's what 10 writers and 5 directors will do... (even when the directors include John Huston and the writers include Woody Allen, Billy Wilder, Joseph Heller and Peter Sellers).
Avoid. You'll save two hours of your life...