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Thursday, April 17, 2014

A-Z Challenge 2014: O is for Operation Kid Brother!



1967



You gotta love the Italians - they do enjoy making their own versions of other people's movies. And you really gotta give it to these filmmakers - they didn't just find some hunky lantern jawed hero type and stick him in a generic James Bond pastiche - no, this bunch went and hired Sean Connery's brother - a non-acting plastic surgeon and archer - and had him play himself. Then they went and hired the Bond Girl from From Russia with Love (Daniela Bianchi); the main villain from Thunderball (Adolfo Celi); and a secondary bad guy from Dr. No (Anthony Dawson).



They weren't done yet either! They also hired M (Bernard Lee) to play Neil Connery's spy boss and Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) as the spy boss's secretary. Mind: blown! I guess what really surprises me is that the 007 producers just let this go on - with apparently no problem whatsoever.



I'd always heard and believed that this was just terrible - but I finally saw it a few months ago - and you know what? While it's true Neil Connery was no actor - the movie is actually an entertaining Bond knockoff - with outlandish but respectable production values and tongue enough in cheek to make it fun.



It was on Amazon Streaming in a nice widescreen version and might still be if you'd like to check it out.







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

10 comments:

  1. Sean Connery had a brother? And he starred in an Italian James Bond movie? Now I've heard everything!

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  2. LOL This is brilliant. It's the most original casting I've ever heard in a mockbuster film.

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    1. I'd love to know if Neil just popped up yes - or if he needed coaxing. Also - did he run it by Sean?

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  3. If I didn't know any better I'd say this was an April Fool's joke! Hilarious! The making of this movie would make a cool movie in itself! Plastic surgeon archer? LOL

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    1. I can understand that! And yes - it's also very cool and adds to the goofy fun of this that they wrote Neil's real profession and hobby in as his spy skills!

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  4. Never saw the movie, but now knowing that Sean Connery's non-acting brother is in it, I'm going to have to give it some of my time. Thanks! As of this moment, I am your newest A to Z follower. Nice post. Entertaining and interesting – a double whammy.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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    1. That's very kind of you to say debi! Thanks for following! I'll return the favor! Come by often, stay late, and comment whenever the mood strikes you!

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  5. Great Poster ! I love these Italian Bond knock -offs (and Jaws knock-offs and Mad Max knock-offs and Escape From New York knock-offs....)

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    1. The Italians do know their way around a knock off!

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