Mighty Jack (TV 1968)

Espionage team "Mighty Jack", headquartered on a flying submarine, opposes the plans of Q, which is trying to take over the world using... um... ice that doesn't melt.

Director:

Kazuho Mitsuta

Writers:

Shin'ichi Sekizawa, Eizaburo Shiba

Stars:

Hideaki Nitani, Naoko Kubo, Hiroshi Minami

Cast

Credited cast:
Hideaki Nitani	...	(archive footage)
Naoko Kubo	...	(archive footage) (as Naoko Kobo)
Hiroshi Minami	...	(archive footage) (as Hiroshi Ninami)
Hideyo Amamoto	...	(archive footage)
Masanari Nihei	...	(archive footage)
Wakako Ikeda	...	(archive footage)
Akira Kasuga	...	(archive footage)
Seikou Fukioka	...	(archive footage)
Noriaki Inoue	...	(archive footage)
Yoshitaka Tanaka	...	(archive footage)
Mitsubu Ohya	...	(archive footage)
Eijirô Yanagi	...	(archive footage) (as Eijirou Yanagi)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jerry Ito	...	Roberto Okamura
Sumio Takatsu

Storyline

The organization Mighty Jack is formed to combat the criminal syndicate known as "Q", and are given a large array of advanced weapons, chief among them being a high-tech submarine. Harold Hatari is abducted by Q, and Mighty Jack is dispatched to rescue him. Hatari is interrogated and threatened with blinding lights, but the Mighty Jack crew rescue him in the nick of time. Later, Q is discovered to be using "hot ice" (water that remains solid at room temperature) to create weapons and a secret ocean base disguised as an iceberg (though it's not precisely clear how hot ice could be a major world threat). Q then attempts to take over the Mighty Jack sub.

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Plot Keywords:

spy | edited from tv series

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

1987 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fuji Television Network, Tsuburaya Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When rockets are fired from the submerged Mighty Jack, the sound effect is that of rockets firing into the sky, not that of torpedoes being launched under water. Upon their detonation we also hear explosions that one would only hear in the open air. The sound of the laser cannon being fired and subsequent explosions continue this sound error.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theatre 3000: Star Force: Fugitive Alien 2 (1991)

User Reviews

The Citizen Kane of Japanese Movies

Well, maybe not, but my oh my, isn't Mighty Jack getting a bad press! The simple fact is, the "movie" (it's nothing of the sort) has been soooo hacked about from its TV origins it's all you can do but sit back and either turn it off or enjoy the ride. See above for the basic outline of "plot" proceedings but, yes, it's pure trash. But here's why I like this video: the Gerry Anderson style models and effects. Along with so many otherwise disposal Jap flicks, this one is festooned with tasty technology and nifty effects that the script (and acting) is frankly not worthy to be seen with. Like Anderson, this film fetishises the Skydiver-alike Mighty Jack with repeated, dare I say lingering shots of it's various functions and ticks. OK, this kind of stuff only suffices for a distraction but if you enjoyed Derek Meddings water/model effects in "UFO" or you're a model nut, this is worth a look. Just a quick one, mind.