''The Doll Squad'' is a 1973 low-budget Z-grade

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include l ...

by Feature-Faire that was later re-released under the title ''Seduce and Destroy''. Directed, edited, co-written and co-produced by Ted V. Mikels, it features

Francine York Francine York (born Francine Yerich; August 26, 1936 – January 6, 2017) was an American actress and model. She also used the name Francine Yerick. Early life Francine Yerich was born to Frank and Sophie Yerich in the small mining town Aurora, ...

Michael Ansara Michael George Ansara (April 15, 1922 – July 31, 2013) was an American actor. He portrayed Cochise in the television series '' Broken Arrow'', Kane in the 1979–1981 series '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'', Commander Kang in '' Star Tr ...

, John Carter,

Anthony Eisley Anthony Eisley (January 19, 1925 – January 29, 2003) was an American actor best known as one of the detective leads, Tracy Steele, in the ABC/Warner Brothers television series '' Hawaiian Eye''. Early in his career, he was credited as Fred Eis ...

, Leigh Christian and

Tura Satana Tura Satana (July 10, 1938Some sources give her birth year as 1935, i.e. Dave Itzkoff"Tura Satana, Cult Actress, Is Dead" ''New York Times'', February 5, 2011; accessed January 8, 2014. – February 4, 2011) was a Japanese American actress, v ...

. Mikels claimed he filmed it for a total cost of $256,000.

Plot

CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...

operative Connolly assigns Sabrina, the leader of a group of five shapely female operatives individually selected by a computer. Code named the ''Doll Squad'', they thwart the efforts of a madman who formerly worked alongside Sabrina as a fellow CIA agent who has become an entrepreneur to overthrow world governments. His plan is to release rats infected with bubonic plague.

Cast

as Eamon O'Reilly *

as Sabrina Kincaid *

as Victor Connelly * John Carter as Senator Stockwell *

as Lavelle Sumara *Lisa Todd as Maria *

Rafael Campos Rafael Campos (13 May 1936 – 9 July 1985) was an actor from the Dominican Republic whose credits include ''Blackboard Jungle'' (1955), '' Dino'' (1957), '' The Light in the Forest'' (1958), ''Slumber Party '57'' (1976), ''The Astro-Zombies'' (1 ...

as Rafael * Lillian Garrett as Nancy Malone *William Bagdad as Joseph *Herb Robins as Munson *Curt Matson as Captain Curran *Christopher Augustine *Bertil Unger as Mr. Cahaymen *Gustaf Unger as Dr. Cahaymen *Richard Reed *William Bonano *

Judith McConnell Judith Lynn McConnell (born April 6, 1944) is an American actress, best known for her role as Sophia Wayne Capwell on the TV series '' Santa Barbara'', on which she appeared from 1984 to 1993. Early life and education McConnell was born in Pitts ...

as Elizabeth White *Jean London as Kim Duval *Sherri Vernon as Cat

Production

Mikels said the script was brought to him by Pam Eddy and Jack Richesin: "It was three kind of naughty girls of the night getting together to take vengeance against somebody that did something to them. It evolved deeper and deeper, I did two or three re-writes on it, and finally the wife of Joseph Robertson did the final draft". Mikels said that Mary Martin and

Sissy Spacek Mary Elizabeth Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for four Britis ...

came in for parts but the roles had already been cast: "I'm very pleased with everybody I had in it though. That turned out to be a forerunner of female power films".

Time Inc. Time Inc. was an American worldwide mass media corporation founded on November 28, 1922, by Henry Luce and Briton Hadden and based in New York City. It owned and published over 100 magazine brands, including its namesake ''Time'', ''Sports Illu ...

contributor Ed White notes that the visuals for the action sequences near the end of the film are unusually dark. This part of the film was shot in a single night. The multiple submachine guns used by the actresses in this sequence were really a single weapon that was on temporarily loan to the director.

Reception

DVD reviewer and Rolling Stone contributor Doug Pratt called it "an enjoyable action romp". He adds, "the girls kick some serious butt and they look terrific in their hot black jumpsuits. Who can resist?" Film critic Michael Adams said the film is "so slow in parts I think it should be called ''The Dull Squad''", but "it picks up at the end". He rated it a solid 37/100. Nonetheless, it has become something of a cult film for fans of actress Francine York.

Influence

This film may have been the inspiration for the '' Charlie's Angels'' television series. Aaron Spelling, who later produced the television series, and at the time was executive producer of ''

Mod Squad Mod, MOD or mods may refer to: Places * Modesto City–County Airport, Stanislaus County, California, US Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Mods (band), a Norwegian rock band * M.O.D. (Method of Destruction), a band from New York City, US ...

'', was invited to the premiere of this film, and the lead member of the squad was named Sabrina, just as in ''Charlie's Angels''.

Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, writer, producer, and actor. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue, profanity, dark humor, non-linear storylines, cameos, ensembl ...

said the women in the film have a similar look to his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad in his film ''

Kill Bill ''Kill Bill: Volume 1'' is a 2003 American martial arts film Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature numerous martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment ...

''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Doll Squad 1973 films 1970s spy action films American spy thriller films Films shot in California Girls with guns films Fictional female martial artists Films directed by Ted V. Mikels 1970s English-language films 1970s American films