Panic in Bangkok (1964)
"Banco à Bangkok pour OSS 117" (original title)

A secret agent sets out to stop an evil scientist who is about to unleash on the world a virulent biological strain he has developed during experiments on rats.

Director:

André Hunebelle

Writers:

Pierre Foucaud (scenario & dialogue), André Hunebelle (scenario & dialogue),

Stars:

Kerwin Mathews, Robert Hossein, Pier Angeli

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kerwin Mathews	...	Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, alias OSS 117
Robert Hossein	...	Dr. Sinn
Pier Angeli	...	Lila
Dominique Wilms	...	Eva Davidson
Gamil Ratib	...	Akhom
Henri Virlojeux	...	Leasock
Jacques Mauclair	...	M. Smith
Henri Guégan	...	Karloff
Raoul Billerey	...	Lemmon
Jacques Hilling	...	Hogby
Akom Mokranond	...	Sonsak
Sing Milintrasai	...	Prasit
Colette Teissèdre	...	Dr. Winter
Yasumoto Soichi	...	The Tibetan

Storyline

A secret agent sets out to stop an evil scientist who is about to unleash on the world a virulent biological strain he has developed during experiments on rats.

---

Plot Keywords:

rat | secret agent | germs | code name | place name in title | 

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure

---

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shadow of Evil

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC), Da.Ma. Cinematografica, P.A.C.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by OSS 117 prend des vacances (1970)

User Reviews

Unexciting adventure movie

Jean Bruce's Hubert Bonnisseur le Bath was France's answer to James Bond. Like Ian Fleming, Jean Bruce became rich thanks to his best-selling novels featuring OSS 117, i.e., Hubert Bath. Despite the French name inherited from his Gallic ancestors, Hubert Bath is an American who is a secret agent for the OSS, the predecessor of the CIA. Jean Bruce's books were turned into movies. Apparently popular in France at that time, they never found an international audience. Watching "Banco a Bangkok pour OSS 117" (English title: Panic in Bangkok), one understands why. The production values are quite bad. OSS 117 seems to be a carbon copy of James Bond. He is irresistible to women; he is good at fisticuffs, etc, etc. Kerwin Mathews who plays the lead role tries to be suave. Of course, he does not have Sean Connery's charisma or presence. The story is formulaic though it anticipates Moonraker, the James Bond flick. An evil Indian doctor, Dr.Guna Sinn (the name does not sound Indian) working in Thailand has developed a biological weapon that will reduce the world's population in accordance with his eugenicist beliefs. OSS 117 has to stop him with the help of a Thai sidekick and seduce the Indian doctor's sister Lila while he is at it.

I watched this movie as a boy many years ago. At that time, it seemed that the acting was adequate. I am sure that I won't think so now. Jean Bruce's books which have been translated into English were far superior to the OSS 117 flicks. Quite the opposite of Ian Fleming, whose books can't hold a candle to the films they engendered. Indeed Jean Bruce was a better writer than Ian Fleming. Read the OSS 117 books. Avoid the movies.

(Reviewed by Sundar Narayan)