Project Terrible: Golden Needles!

Golden Needles  (American International, 1974)

Before the Camera:


Joe Don Baker  (The Living Daylights)
Elizabeth Ashley  (Windows)
Jim Kelly  (Enter the Dragon)
Roy Chiao  (Above the Law)
Frances Fong  (Rush Hour)
Tony Lee (Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold)
Sonny Barnes  (Gymkata)
Pat E. Johnson  (Mortal Kombat)
Siu Hung Cham  (Drunken Master)
Tiet Wo Chu  (Last Hero in China)

with
Ann Sothern  (Undercover Maisie)

and

Burgess Meredith (Batman '66)
as

Winters

Behind the Camera:


Directed by Robert Clouse


Produced by Fred Weintraub


Written by S. Lee Pogostin and Sylvia Schneble




A year after they each had separate cinematic success, Joe Don Baker – coming off Walking Tall – and director Robert Clouse – who’d directed Enter the Dragon - joined forces for this martial arts actioner. The story has various factions going after a priceless Asian statue that holds very special acupuncture needles – needles that legendarily grant eternal life to the person they’re shoved into.

The bad guy side starts right off showing why they’re the villains when they send firesuited thugs out with flamethrowers - which really burns some people up. Elizabeth Ashley is hired to transport the statue, but she is quickly scared off . She in turns brings in beefy adventurer Joe Don Baker to assist, with a cut of the profits and a generous slice of Ms. Ashley his prize. He drafts old pal Jim Kelly to provide some kung foomph,, and the trio sets out on a quest to find the now missing statue and deliver it to Ms. Ashley’s employers. The baddies, led by a wonderfully campy Burgess Meredith, proceed to attack, chase, and battle Baker and Kelly every chance they get. "Needles" to say, it’s quite a ride.

Were you ever so happy to see a huge pile of throw pillows in your life?

Although assigned as a part of Project Terrible by Robert over at Gaming Creatively I have to admit this kind of movie is right up my alley (70’s action with known stars) so it was already in my Netflix queue. It’s not a classic by any means, but it’s well worth a watch for those so inclined. I’ve always enjoyed Joe Don Baker, and here he adds meaty martial arts to his box of tricks. It’s nice to see Jim Kelly in another decently budgeted movie, as he was headed for Al Adamson oblivion a few years later. Elizabeth Ashley turns in solid work in a tricky role, but the acting kudos go to Meredith, who is marvelously menacing going over the top as the kind of guy who doesn't care who he has to order killed as long as he gets what he wants. It's also nice to see Ann Sothern for a couple of minutes.

The movie isn’t lightning paced – but it does move along, with some kind of action scene never more than a few minutes away. The location shooting in Asia adds some production value, and it’s all tied up in a nice cinematic bow by director


This one is actually the best Project Terrible movie I've been given so far. Thanks, Robert!




Let's Get Out of Here ?

At roughly 1:05:00, Jim Kelly wants to depart with the statue; and around 1:18:00 Joe Don Baker feels a movie climax coming on...



Eye Candy ?

I like Elizabeth Ashley - but despite a couple of charming 70's outfits here - she isn't showcased well enough. Sorry, Ms. Ashley.

Buddha Man's Capsule Review

Buddha Man says "Golden Needles won't stick you with a bad movie."

Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!