A Man Could Get Killed

Just wanted to let anyone who might stumble upon this movie to know that it's certainly worth your time viewing. Melina Mercouri is great as the widow of a shadowy underworld figure who entangles James Garner in her search for missing booty. The booty being a small fortune in loose diamonds. The movie has lots of sixties style going for it and is set in beautiful Mediterranean locales. With a great supporting cast of sixties superstars like Sandra Dee and Tony Franciosa the movie entertains with tons of tounge in cheek, cloak and dagger sexy verve. It's a fun in the sun movie with all the stars putting in great performances. One final note, as the credits roll at the end of the movie, Frank Sinatra's rendition of Strangers in the Night provides a fitting and satisfying end.

1965s 'A Man Could Get Killed' is a great slice of 60s movie hokum. It has James Garner at his "Basically, I'm just passing through on my way to Australia" best. Added to that, the cream of England's 'old duffer' character actors, Coote, Culver, Parker and Grey. An interesting cameo from the great Irish doctor/actor Niall MacGinnis, as the ships captain. Sandra Dee is as loud as any American tourist in Europe should be allowed to get, but still gorgeous. Tony Franciosa as the pretend Portuguese smuggler is fun and of course the wonderful, and criminally underrated, Melina Mercouri stealing the show. Throw in some diamonds and it all adds up to a not bad 97 minutes of escapism. And with a nice romantic ending to the strains of, probably Bert Kaempfert's greatest tune 'Strangers in the Night'. What's not to like! I saw this film as a young boy, when first released, loved it and have never forgotten it. How this film is not available on DVD is beyond me! It's about time we had a box set of James Garner 60s films with, obviously, this film included.

I saw this film several times, and really thought it was great. James Garner put in a superb performance as did Melina Mercouri. In fact, the chemistry between all of the performers seemed natural and lent to making a hilariously preposterous plot all the more believable.

Try as I might, I can't understand why it was never released on VHS or DVD. I thought the film to be very entertaining. It must have been popular, based on the number of times it was later shown on TV. It seemed too, to be an excellent showcase for James Garner's talents as an actor.

If you get a chance to see the film, please don't hesitate. It was not only very entertaining, but it is a fine representation of the movies of the day - original, intelligent, romantic and funny all at once. It had a quality about it that is sadly lacking in films today.

I didn't really wanted to add much to the other reviews. If you've watched and just kicked back to many sixties films of this type, and find joy simply soaking the unique sights and sounds of the time that showcases some of the performers of that era, here's another offering to entertain you similarly. You can add it to the many rollicking Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, Rock Hudson, Peter Sellers, Carry on... flavor of comedies that were quite popular then, a time that weren't real for many of us born after.

The remarkable thing is, some people get the impression the actors and crew involved were having as much of a good time off camera as they were having on camera or enjoying themselves as much as the audience that enjoyed it. Not so, according to many involved who spoke about their experience making the film years after. Sandra Dee has expressed that she never wanted to make it in the first place and regrets having spent four miserable months on the picture. The first director was dismissed for having 'trouble' with the actors. James Garner was reportedly disappointed with the result. He and Tony Franciosa didn't get along well during filming either. Their fight scene in the movie was said to be quite non fictional.

In fact, Garner admitted he punched Franciosa because the guy abused and never pulled his punches against stuntmen, or tried at all to feign it as necessary. It's almost like implying Franciosa was displaying a misplaced sense of machismo and bravado on the set. Franciosa was known at the time for not being able to control his hair trigger temper.

Regardless, the fact that they were able to convince so many people they weregenuinely having great fun, getting famously along, and convey a light hearted comical movie lay testament to an actor's ability to act if nothing else.

Just a few additional information about the film that isn't mentioned on this site for those interested.

This really is one of those incredibly exciting caper movies of the 60's and it really is sad that it is not on DVD. Melina Mercouri, a total woman in every sense, exuded sex appeal and charm in a way that few others ever have. All the cast were great and how many know that this is the movie where Strangers in the Night was first heard, a big hit for Frank Sinatra. The European locations were wonderfully atmospheric, and also James Garner in the lead role, so perfectly cast .Sandra Dee and Anthony Franciosa, now both departed added to the confusion and fun of this absolutely delightful movie. The pace never lets up, and whilst James Garner is still with us , would be great to hear his views on working with the other cast members. Lets get this out on DVD!!!