In it's own way a very influential film - an early success for the fledgling English company, Hammer, which prompted them to make a series of films adapted from pre-established radio/TV shows, which eventually led to Quatermass and the horrors. I'd never heard or read any Dick Barton stories and watching it I was aware of the need to catch up. Barton was a secret agent, who mucked around with some friends, had achieved a level of fame... it felt a little like some of the jokey Bulldog Drummond movies. It's not really a star vehicle either for Barton - as much screen time is given to his mates and the enemies.
The plot involves baddies trying to kill Barton so he won't stop their plan, which I would have thought drew attention to it. But it's a good plan... destroying Britain with bacteria in the water supple. It's tongue in cheek and fast paced with ex Nazi villains and outlandish ambition in the story lines - I would love to see Simon Pegg and that crowd up date this. It does creak though - the low budget is evident, the acting over the top and it feels more like an adapted radio play than a full-on film. It kept reminding me of old Australian films.
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