Everything negative any reviewer said about this film is absolutely true. Still, I think it has great entertainment value. First of all there is the lovely Sylvia Koscina as femme fatale which is really pure Matt Helm/The Mna from Uncle terriroty. Then there are nice car chases, some really funny scenes, Stephen Boyd as scheming mastermind etc. The hero, Rex Maynard, is a slightly overweight young singer eloping with his producer's daughter. Given his physique, the fight scenes in which he knocks out at least three mobsters are a laugh. To be honest, I didn't really get what the story was about due to the fact that it was somewhat convoluted and the quality of the soundtrack was awful. The film is set in Africa, yet there is a surprisingly large number of Italian cars on the streets. And I do wonder why someone would fly Allitalia from LA to South Africa.
7 Reviews
"I'm getting pretty sick of these kidnappings!"
classicsoncall28 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Can you believe two movies were released in 1971 with the title "The Manipulator"? The other one starred Mickey Rooney as a deranged film director, but as intriguing as the concept sounds, the film is a real chore to sit through. Don't say I didn't warn you.
It wasn't until I got to this movie's end credits that I became aware that the top billed actor Stephen Boyd wasn't even the principal character. That honor went to Michael Kerner, and if I didn't know better, I would have thought this entire exercise was made as a vanity project to demonstrate Kerner's prowess as an entertainer. Which I state with tongue firmly in cheek, because as a leading man, he's not all that good looking, with a paunchy middle and a moderately pleasing singing voice. And then, he's thrown into these situations where he displays rudimentary martial arts moves intended to pass him off as the next Bruce Lee. I thought it all kind of funny considering the number of times the guy got kidnapped throughout the picture.
The funniest thing to my mind though was the idea that his producer, Arnold Tiller (where Stephen Boyd comes in), is being shaken down for a million bucks so that Rex Maynard (Kerner) and Tiller's daughter (Marié du Toit) are returned safely from an eventual, real kidnapping. More than once, Tiller demands a signature and a receipt for the payoff!! He probably wanted it as a tax write off, but gee, it just sounded so dumb.
In any event, the film's saving grace is the presence of gorgeous actress Sylva Koscina. I first saw her in the 1958 sword and sandal epic, "Hercules" with Steve Reeves, the movie that kick started that whole new movie genre. Although I've only seen her in a couple of movies since, I've never forgotten the name and face. If you need a reason to see this picture, you can place your bet on Sylva Koscina.
It wasn't until I got to this movie's end credits that I became aware that the top billed actor Stephen Boyd wasn't even the principal character. That honor went to Michael Kerner, and if I didn't know better, I would have thought this entire exercise was made as a vanity project to demonstrate Kerner's prowess as an entertainer. Which I state with tongue firmly in cheek, because as a leading man, he's not all that good looking, with a paunchy middle and a moderately pleasing singing voice. And then, he's thrown into these situations where he displays rudimentary martial arts moves intended to pass him off as the next Bruce Lee. I thought it all kind of funny considering the number of times the guy got kidnapped throughout the picture.
The funniest thing to my mind though was the idea that his producer, Arnold Tiller (where Stephen Boyd comes in), is being shaken down for a million bucks so that Rex Maynard (Kerner) and Tiller's daughter (Marié du Toit) are returned safely from an eventual, real kidnapping. More than once, Tiller demands a signature and a receipt for the payoff!! He probably wanted it as a tax write off, but gee, it just sounded so dumb.
In any event, the film's saving grace is the presence of gorgeous actress Sylva Koscina. I first saw her in the 1958 sword and sandal epic, "Hercules" with Steve Reeves, the movie that kick started that whole new movie genre. Although I've only seen her in a couple of movies since, I've never forgotten the name and face. If you need a reason to see this picture, you can place your bet on Sylva Koscina.
Get this movie released on DVD!!
tarwaterthomas9 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this Stephen Boyd obscurity on Channel 20, a San Francisco television station in 1984 while on active duty in the Air Force and assigned to a radar site located atop Mount Tamalpais' west peak north of Mill Valley. Rex Maynard (played by Michael Kirner) is a stuntman-turned-superstar entertainer who elopes with the lovely Harriet Tiller (played by Marie Du Tout). Her dear ol' dad is entertainment mogul Arnold Tiller, and the elopement does not sit well with him. So he decides to stage an ersatz kidnapping of his unwanted son-in-law for publicity purposes, but all too soon it becomes the real thing. Rex Maynard jumps out of a hotel and fights his kidnappers at the drop of a hat. He also survives a drop into a river while inside a runaway automobile. THE MANIPULATOR (also known as AFRICAN STORY) has as much action as a Republic Pictures movie serial, and it was one of a bunch of French, German, Italian, and Spanish movies that starred Stephen Boyd during the 1970s, and chances are some of them never made it to the United States. This thriller benefits from on-location filming in Capetown, South Africa. THE MANIPULATOR deserved to be released on home video, even if it's part of one of those 50-movie packages. Based on the novel "Dangerous Journey" by Ralph Anders, who also co-wrote the screenplay and served as associate producer. By the way, Stephen Boyd, Michael Kirner and Marie Du Toit were also in THE BIG GAME (1972). There you have it.
A good car chase, and that's about it
gridoon202411 June 2010
I watched "The Manipulator" as part of my ongoing quest to see as many of Sylva Koscina's movies (especially the action / spy / crime ones) as possible. I probably shouldn't have bothered: she has a fairly thankless role in this film, despite her second billing. But top-billed Stephen Boyd is not the star, either: that title should go the the little known Michael Kirner, who plays a singer / stuntman / judo expert (!), but is a bit too much of a goofball to be taken very seriously. There is one very good high-speed car chase somewhere in the middle, but the rest of the action is pretty crudely directed. And there isn't too much of it. As a travelogue of South Africa (what a coincidence, the 2010 Football World Cup started there today!), the movie works. As an action thriller, it is boring. *1/2 out of 4.
Poor Stephen Boyd
Hitchcoc1 December 2006
The guy who was a star in "Ben Hur" finds himself in this awful spy drama. I realize that much of it is dubbed from the Italian, but the dialogue is laughable, the characters are wooden and stupid. There is a bunch of judo and karate that looks silly. I'm sure that this emerged out of the James Bond era, but this has nothing to recommend it. The bad guys want money, and somehow they don't have to do much other than ask for it. Then there's the insipid byplay between the newlyweds. Thank God they married each other so they wouldn't bore anyone else to death. This film was part of a collection. Sometimes, it seems, the compilers of these sets must get really desperate. Anyway, the resolution is unsatisfying. There is no real direction, just random action. Watch an old sixties/seventies spy show and you will have a much better time.
A Lost Treasure!
thenickatoms26 December 2006
After completing 13 Television Spectaculars, Rex Maynard, a Sinatra like singer, goes on vacation. He also decides to elope with his producer's daughter to Africa! Stephen Boyd, the producer, stages a fake kidnapping to scare Rex off from his daughter and make publicity for his television spectaculars. All is under control until Rex Maynard, who was also a former stuntman, escapes, using his Stuntman Skills. But the coast of South Africa isn't clear yet! REAL kidnappers decide to grab Rex and it gets out of control! Then we find out who Rex can trust and can't trust. Even his wife is involved some how. But can the Manipulator manipulate the situation to save the day? Who doesn't want to be Rex Maynard? Michael Kirner gives a very realistic performance as a man who's been kidnapped many times in one day. Stephen Boyd is great as The Manipulator. I'm only sorry to see this series did not take off. It would be great to see him put his Stuntman/singer through more adventure. There are lots of side stories going on to keep the characters fresh and add depth to the story.
Beautiful locations in South Africa. Great music with, "Man, You Need A Hand" and other songs. The soundtrack would be a great addition to any collection. Very rarely does a movie have an impact on my life, but this one did.
This is a very hard film to find and I'm lucky a friend taped in by accident. This was made back to back with 'The Big Game', but they are not related, just the same film crew. If you get a chance, check this film out! The real title of this film is 'The Manipulator'. The Mickey Rooney film came out at the same time and they were forced to change the title.
Beautiful locations in South Africa. Great music with, "Man, You Need A Hand" and other songs. The soundtrack would be a great addition to any collection. Very rarely does a movie have an impact on my life, but this one did.
This is a very hard film to find and I'm lucky a friend taped in by accident. This was made back to back with 'The Big Game', but they are not related, just the same film crew. If you get a chance, check this film out! The real title of this film is 'The Manipulator'. The Mickey Rooney film came out at the same time and they were forced to change the title.
Priceless Gem of a Movie!
rexmaynard-739-33786815 May 2010
This movie is one of the most entertaining I've ever seen. The plot, as can be determined by the other reviews, takes numerous twists and turns, and is enjoyable. What makes this movie so amazing though, are the performances turned out by two of the actors, Michael Kirner as the heroic "Rex Maynard", and Lorenz Schultz who is the mysterious character only known as "Murrays Agent". Mr. Kirner is by far the greatest "everyman" hero in movie history. His way of approaching and coping with every obstacle thrown at him in this movie make all other action heroes seem like absurd bad comic book figures in comparison. You cannot help but be swept inside Rex's head and experience his ordeal firsthand...a truly remarkable performance.
Lorenz Schultz plays the menacing, brooding bearded figure "Murrays Agent", who is a chilling shadow that stalks Rex at airports and speedways, and delivers mysterious phone messages to Rex's lovely wife, Linda. Not a major character but one played so effectively that he will remain locked in your head for weeks after seeing this. I admit I even kept thinking he was somehow out there, watching me too.... scary! The rest of the cast also shines, a testimony to director Fred Wilson, but also to the writer, Mr. Ralph Anders (why his work is not standard material in college lit. courses is beyond me). This movie is not easy to find, but is well worth the hunt for lovers of cinema.
Lorenz Schultz plays the menacing, brooding bearded figure "Murrays Agent", who is a chilling shadow that stalks Rex at airports and speedways, and delivers mysterious phone messages to Rex's lovely wife, Linda. Not a major character but one played so effectively that he will remain locked in your head for weeks after seeing this. I admit I even kept thinking he was somehow out there, watching me too.... scary! The rest of the cast also shines, a testimony to director Fred Wilson, but also to the writer, Mr. Ralph Anders (why his work is not standard material in college lit. courses is beyond me). This movie is not easy to find, but is well worth the hunt for lovers of cinema.
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