A Man Could Get Killed

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!!!

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.

What are James Garner, Melina Mercouri, Anthony Franciosa and Sandra Dee all doing in the same picture? Not having a good time, according to reports. American banker Garner arrives in Lisbon on business and is mistaken for the man meant to replace a murdered government agent, who was stabbed while on a search for stolen diamonds. That man's flirtatious widow (Mercouri) spies Garner at her husband's funeral and pursues him. Meanwhile, an American diamond smuggler pretending to be Portuguese (Francisosa, with a lousy accent that apparently convinces Mercouri) is after the gems but is pursued by another American (Dee), a love-hungry college student on holiday. The film's first director, Cliff Owen, was apparently run off by the stars themselves; his successor, Ronald Neame, couldn't stop Garner and Franciosa from going at each other's throats, while Dee, nearing the end of her contract with Universal, complained the eight-week shoot turned into "a miserable four months." Despite all this, there are some witty lines in the screenplay by Richard L. Breen, T. E. B. Clarke and David E. Walker, adapting Walker's novel "Diamonds For Moscow", and Mercouri is an absolute scene-stealer. With a voice so languorous and lascivious it's practically mocking, Melina gives the picture such a lift that, for a few moments, it stops being about diamond smuggling and is instead all about her. The appropriately Latin-influenced score by Bert Kaempfert introduced the instrumental "Strangers in the Night" (originally titled "Beddy Bye"), which netted itself a Golden Globe nomination for Best Song despite the fact it didn't have lyrics yet! ** from ****

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.

Funny the things you remember as a kid. I saw this movie with my grandparents at a drive-in and never saw it again. But I clearly remember the plot and characters. It was funny, entertaining, and well worth seeing again. I've been checking everywhere for it on DVD and would like to be notified when it comes out on DVD. Movies like this don't come around often. With the invention of computer animation and high cost movie budgets there seems to be a lack of true screenplay and character building -- "A Man Could Get Killed" was simple, well acted and memorable -- what more could you ask for in a movie? I strongly recommend seeing it if you get the chance.