This is something I wouldn't normally have seen. But as screen goddess Susan George appeared in THE PERSUADERS! "The Gold Napoleon" I got the box-set of that campy old action spoof and this episode was reproduced there. Being filmed in 1968, it is, of course, way dated material, made even more so by the obvious lack of the ability to project himself that the legendary Roger Moore of 007 fame had back then, to say nothing of the worst culprit, that Damon guy. Parroting his lines without any feeling. And the cinematography is absolutely dismal when it comes to trying to convince the viewer that these guys are driving those cars. It just looks stoooopit.
Sorry, I know this comes from the Golden Age of Hollywood (well, almost) and way back then, it was good for its time, I suppose, but that's a back-handed compliment. I did love the opening shot the show had after the clumsily-executed old marquee, the long-legged girl on the bed. There were better things to film, obviously.
The script shows a fondness of ladies, and the camera zooms in for a few close-ups of legs and feet even. Unfortunately the feet do not pass inspection by today's standards, how the old lady must have blushed years later on what with all these new models prancing about, for shame! Hell, an embarrassment to talk about.
As for this being the prelude to THE PERSUADERS! very interesting, and at least one good thing came of it then.
In short, by today's standards, hell, by 1971's standards, this is absolute junk. For Grandpa out there who loved this, sorry, old fella, but those two leads have no idea, and it doesn't matter that one of them became the cultural icon of 1970s super-cool suave action heroes, here he is an absolute empty-headed cardboard marionette. The thing has not stood the test of time. If THE PERSUADERS! looks dated, at least it shows lots and lots of promise and a cartload of potential. This does not.