THE MAD EXECUTIONERS

The sinister court convenes

THE MAD EXECUTIONERS (aka Der Henker von London/1963). Director: Edwin Zbonek. Colorized.

In London a secret court convenes periodically, kidnaps people who have gotten away with assorted crimes, and pronounces a sentence of death -- with hanging corpses discovered in the morning. The same rope is used each time and continues to disappear from police HQ no matter what precautions are taken! Inspector John Hillier (Hansjorg Felmy) is determined to uncover the identity of the leader of this court. He is equally desperate to find out who murdered his sister, one of the victims of a sex maniac targeting young women who rapes and beheads them. One of the suspects in the former case is a retired judge, Sir Francis Elliott (Rudolf Forster), which is awkward as he is the father of Hillier's girlfriend, Ann (Maria Perschy of The Castle of Fu Manchu). Ann sets out to find the killer of Hillier's sister, and runs into a man named Dr. Ferguson (Dieter Borsche) ...

Felmy and Wolfgang Preiss

The Mad Executioners is based on the story "White Carpet" by Bryan Edgar Wallace, the son of Edgar Wallace, who clearly followed in his father's footsteps. The movie has a lot of rich atmosphere, although at times it becomes confusing, especially as it pertains to Ann's father. When the head of the tribunal is unmasked, we remember this same character watching the court from a distance (there may well be an explanation for his anomaly, but the audience never learns it). Wolfgang Preiss [Die Slowly, You'll Enjoy It More] plays another inspector and Felmy's boss. Chris Howland plays reporter Tom Jenkins, who is a master of disguise and lends a hand to the inspector. (It is a mercy that Eddi Arent wasn't given this role!)

Verdict: Two puzzles for the price of one. ***. 

DIE SLOWLY, YOU'LL ENJOY IT MORE

Brad Harris and Lex Barker

DIE SLOWLY, YOU'LL ENJOY IT MORE (aka Spy Today, Die Tomorrow aka Mister Dynamit -- morgan kust euch der tod/1967). Director: Franz Josef Gottlieb.

A wealthy criminal named Baretti (Amedeo Nazzari) -- an arms smuggler who loves playing with toy trains --  has managed to steal a nuclear missile away from a stockpile in New Mexico, and now demands a billion dollars from the U.S. government or he will drop the bomb on Washington, D.C. Agent Bob Urban (Lex Barker), also known as "Mr. Dynamite," is assigned to the case. He is briefly assisted by a man named Cliff (Brad Harris) and dallies with a lovely lady, Lu (Maria Perschy), who may or may not be on the side of the angels. A certain General Burch (Jose Suarez) is secretly working with Baretti. 

Amedeo Nazzari

Die Slowly is yet another poor imitation of Thunderball. Former Tarzan Lex Barker is fine as the super-spy but his vehicle is padded with too many scenes of generals sitting around talking and talking, trying to decide what to do about Baretti and his bomb while there are only occasional spurts of action from Urban. (One late sequence involving a lot of metal barrels is at least well-staged). Other cast members you may have heard of include Gustavo Rojo and Wolfgang Preiss. Virtually everyone in this international production is dubbed. 

Verdict: Thunderball it ain't. **.