A re-hash of Stranglers from Bombay – about a crusading Britisher who brings down a vicious cult in an exotic British colony, with the Macguffin of a clue that can name members of the cult – but actually it’s a lot better. Instead of the duty that motivates Guy Rolfe, Geoffrey Toone is propelled by revenge (the death of his irritatingly badly acted daughter, who is stabbed in the boob). Toone is also a more interesting lead than Rolfe, an actor of the solid Eric Portman school. Plus this is in colour, with some terrific art design and costumes – the big attraction of the film along with Christopher Lee as the leader of the tongs. It’s beyond saying that this film is racially dodgy – Asians are played by Britishers, French, Indians, and even the occasional Asian. It’s also very corny – devoted daughter killed, beautiful ex-hooker falls in love with Toone and doesn’t care if he treats her like garbage (she even dies for him), a British police officer is corrupt; Jimmy Sangster, who wrote the script, poo-pooed the film. But I found it fun.
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