Blue Panther (1965)

Marie-Chantal travels by train to her cousin's place to spend a winter holiday, when a stranger - apparently a fugitive from someone aboard - entrusts her with a jewel in the shape of a ... See full summary »

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Jacques Chazot (character), Claude Chabrol (scenario and adaptation)

Stars:

Marie Laforêt, Francisco Rabal, Serge Reggiani

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marie Laforêt	...	Marie-Chantal Froidevaux des Chatenets
Francisco Rabal	...	Paco Castillo
Serge Reggiani	...	Ivanov
Charles Denner	...	Johnson
Akim Tamiroff	...	Prof. Lambaré / Dr. Kha
Stéphane Audran	...	Olga
Roger Hanin	...	Bruno Kerrien
Pierre-François Moro	...	Hubert de Ronsac
Gilles Chusseau	...	Gregor
Antonio Passalia	...	Sparafucile
Robert Burnier	...	A Swiss Gentleman
Claude Chabrol	...	Customer complaining of his fruit juice
Onofrio Arcoleo
Lahcen Boukish	...	Thug in a Bournous
José María Caffarel	...	(as Caffarel)

Storyline

Marie-Chantal travels by train to her cousin's place to spend a winter holiday, when a stranger - apparently a fugitive from someone aboard - entrusts her with a jewel in the shape of a tiger with ruby eyes. Unknown to her, these false jewels contain a virus powerful enough to destroy all humankind. Doctor Kha is just one among many spies from different nations trying to get their hands on the tiger, or Marie-Chantal... It will give any nation a tremendous control over all others! Marie-Chantal, a snob girl, will evade all attacks by sheer female cunning, and shows tigerish qualities in dealing with her male, and female foes.

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Plot Keywords:

rubies | spy | panther | biological warfare | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France Italy Spain Morocco

Language:

French

Release Date:

25 August 1965 (France)

Also Known As:

Blue Panther

Filming Locations:

Morocco

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rome Paris Films, Les Productions Georges de Beauregard, Producciones Cinematográficas D.I.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's French title "Marie Chantal contre Dr. Kha" is a sly allusion to the French title for Dr. No (1962) which was "James Bond 007 contre Dr. No".

User Reviews

Is it really THE Claude Chabrol?

If you're looking for something like "le boucher" or "les cousins" ,please pass by.It's Chabrol's second period ,between his promising debut ("le beau Serge" "les cousins" "à double tour" ) and his golden age ("que la bête meure";le boucher").To set the record straight "Marie -Chantal contre docteur Kha " is commercial stuff.It was obviously intended as a spoof on the James Bond movies which were at their absolute peak at the time,when Sean Connery ruled.Marie Laforêt -who is also a singer but here she does not sing- portrays a false bubble head girl,much smarter than her enemies -and allies - think she is and she's both gorgeous and efficient.A bevy of good actors support her:Bunuelian (!) Francisco Rabal,Serge Reggiani,Roger Hanin -François Mitterrand's brother-in-law-,and as the villain,Akim Tamiroff who hams it up as hell,halfway between Fu -Manchu and a SPECTRE member.But one should also note Stephane Audran's presence :she was Mrs Chabrol at the time,and she would be the star of his best movies ("le boucher" "la femme infidèle" "la rupture" "les noces rouges" "Violette Nozières"...)as well as Bunuel's "le charme discret de la bourgeoisie" and Axel's "Gaestebud".Audran portrays Olga ,a false widow .Claude Chabrol ,in the grand Hitchcock tradition,appears as a barman.

All these people are searching for a jewel,a panther with ruby eyes ;its secret is not very original .

This is a movie for Chabrol completists.If you're not,there's much more interesting in this director's uneven but interesting career.