THE BLACK BOX AFFAIR

Craig Hill

THE BLACK BOX AFFAIR (aka Il mondo trema/1966). Director: James Harris (Marcello Ciorciolini). 

Johnny Grant (Craig Hill of You Have to Run Fast) is a spy who retired when his wife was murdered, but former boss Mr. X (Herbert Montureano) and his old partner, Pablo (Luis Marin), need him back in the game. Various agents have gathered to try to recover a "black box" from an aircraft that crashed. This does not refer to the black boxes you generally find in airplanes, but to a mysterious device with unusual properties that Russian and Chinese agents want to get their hands on. Johnny decides to join in when he learns that his arch-enemy Fabian (Rolf Tasna), who was responsible for his wife's death, is also up to his old tricks. 

Hill with Rossella Bergamonti

Johnny and Pablo bounce around and eventually wind up in Vienna, where there is some action at the amusement park (which later figured in the James Bond movie The Living Daylights). Johnny dallies with several ladies: the drug-addicted Ambra (Moa Tahi); the duplicitous Myriam (Rossella Bergamonti); and the lovely Madame Florian (Teresa Gimpera), who may also have her own secrets. The movie has plenty of lively fistfights, especially at the opening, and Hill makes a splendid spy. The villains try to kill Johnny by blowing up an entire airliner, but he hardly seems concerned about this, and is making jokes with Pablo not much later. Twenty-four years after appearing together in this film Hill and Gimpera were married. 

Verdict: Slugfests are not enough to make a great movie, but Hill is effective and this at least holds the attention. **1/2. 

 

YOU HAVE TO RUN FAST

Elaine Edwards and Craig Hill

YOU HAVE TO RUN FAST (1961). Director: Edward L. Cahn.

Roger Condon (Craig Hill), a young doctor, has to treat a dirty cop who was beaten by thugs who work for mob boss Jim Craven (Grant Richards). When the crooked cop dies, the police want to put Condon in protective custody, but he wants to stay in charge of his life. Therefore he runs off to become a sporting goods salesman -- rechristened Frank Harlow -- in a small hunting community. Meanwhile Craven and his men go on the hunt for Condon, hoping to eliminate him as a witness. The doc stays in an inn owned and run by Colonel Maitland (Willis Bouchey) and his daughter Laurie (Elaine Edwards).  

Craig Hill and Jack Mann as Lt. Carbo

The first problem with this poorly scripted movie is that the lead character is an asshole. He expresses not the slightest remorse nor regret after a cop who was assigned to protect him -- after he's refused to go to a hotel -- is gunned down (but then the lead detective doesn't seem especially bothered by this, either). His idea of "living his life" is shaving his mustache, getting contacts, and completely giving up his hard-earned career as a doctor -- say what? Laurie comes off like a hopeless she-geek -- she is so desperate to have a relationship with Condon that for a birthday present she actually gives him a picture of herself! (Talk about pushy!) Fortunately for her, Condon is equally interested in Laurie. 

As the excitement doesn't mount, Craven shows up in town with two more thugs, leading Condon to run off once more, and a gun battle develops with the old Colonel and his rifle playing a large part. You Have to Run Fast comes off like a barely-produced and padded television episode and it resists interesting developments at every turn. Craig Hill was a handsome "B" actor who went to Europe to make features. He finally got married at age 64 after having hot flings with Rock Hudson and, reportedly, Marlene Dietrich, among others. His early romantic life might have made a more interesting movie than this stinky picture. Director Cahn keeps things moving but to no avail with this bad a story. 

Verdict: Run fast from this movie. *1/2.