Deadlier than the Male (4 Stars)

Times change. Standards change. When this film was released in 1967 it was given an X certificate in Britain, i.e. it could only be viewed by people over 18. Its release on Blu-ray in 2015 has a 12 certificate. Are today's audiences more mature than they were 40 years ago? No, I don't think that's the reason. It's something completely different. Look at the film poster above. Two bikini clad girls with harpoon guns. In the 1960's it wasn't acceptable that women could be portrayed as cold-hearted killers. Only men were allowed to be killers. It was a case of sexism, nothing more, nothing less. Women weren't allowed to do what men could do. Women can kill their victims just as efficiently as men. In fact, they can do it even more efficiently, because men are distracted by their beauty and don't realise they have to defend themselves until it's too late.

The female of the species is more deadly than the male.

The film isn't just about female empowerment. The big baddy is a man, Carl Petersen. He's the brains behind the organisation, but he hires women as killers because they can do it better. "Deadlier than the Male" is obviously a homage to the James Bond films – it would be unfair to call it a parody – and the villain is clearly based on the Bond villains. He arrogantly invites his opponent, Hugh Drummond, to his castle to explain his plans in detail. The final showdown takes place on a giant chess board surrounded by robotic chess pieces. Carl Petersen and Hugh Drummond continue their game, calling out their moves while trying to kill one another. It's more James Bond than James Bond.

The notes on the Blu-ray cover state that this is one of Quentin Tarantino's favourite films. I didn't know that, but I believe it. It's a very Tarantino-ish film.

Hugh Drummond is a character who appeared in pulp fiction novels written by H. C. McNeile from 1920 to 1937. Only two films were made about his exploits. That's not enough. The franchise should be revived.

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