Plot
Jonas Wilde, a leading British secret agent/assassin, returns home to the Channel Islands from a mission in the Caribbean fearing his nerve has gone, and attempts to resign. He is persuaded by his superior, Tony Canning, to undergo a final mission and assassinate a defector being held by the Americans. Wilde starts a relationship with Jocelyn. As part of the mission Wilde seduces Rhoda, a housekeeper at the house where the scientist is being kept, in order to access the house. He is captured and interrogated by CIA agent Lucinda who tells Wilde that someone is causing British agents to be killed by mistake. Wilde escapes and goes looking for Canning, who has disappeared. He teams up with Canning's wife, Barbara, and heads to the base in the Channel Islands. A fellow agent, Brian Stern, tells him that another member of their unit, Peter Ravenspur, has been murdered. Wilde and Stern then take Ravenspur's niece Mari aboard Stern's boat for questioning. Stern reveals he is a double agent but is killed by Wilde. Mari, who has been working for Lucinda, is killed accidentally. Wilde goes back to London and discovers that his girlfriend, Jocelyn, was working for Stern. Wilde kills her. Canning tells Wilde that he is too valuable to be allowed to resign.Cast
* Richard Johnson as Jonas Wilde * Carol Lynley as Jocelyn * Barbara Bouchet as Marita *Production
The film was an attempt to cash in on the popularity of James Bond movies. It was based on ''The Eliminator'', a novel by Andrew York about an assassin, Jonas Wilde, who worked for "The Route", a small government organization based on the island of Jersey. It was published in 1966. The ''Observer'' called it "a fast moving spy story". "There isn't a human, living character in the book," said ''The Guardian''. The ''New York Times'' said "the author has narrative viguour and a great deal of ingenuity in small details which is probably enough to outbalance his liberal use of plot cliches." The character appeared in a series of novels. Film rights were bought by Amicus who in January 1967 announced they would make the movie from a script by Meade Roberts under the direction of Seth Holt. It would be the first of a three-picture deal with United Artists. In February Amicus said Richard Johnson would play the lead. Diana Dors played a support role. Milton Subotsky of Amicus called the movie doomed, saying the director Seth Holt was ill during filming, the script never worked and the cameraman was replaced in the middle of the shoot. Box office response was poor.Ed. Allan Bryce, ''Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood'', Stray Cat Publishing, 2000 p 47-48 Subotsky later said this and '' What Became of Jack and Jill?'' were "total failures". It was shot at Shepperton Studios with sets designed by theReception
The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' called it "a tired, and tiring muddle of a film with characters interestingly introduced and then abruptly dropped only to turn up later as though nothing has happened in the meantime." ''The Guardian'' called it "a reasonably satisfying piece of work".New films Roud, Richard. The Guardian 17 Nov 1967: 9.References
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