Secret of the Red Orchid (1962)

Terrible Dubbing Alert!! This DVD of MYSTERY OF THE ORHCID is terrible, as it only has the very poorly dubbed English version. The original German dialog is not an option and this is a shame, as I would have loved to hear Christopher Lee speaking German. Plus, the dubbing was done so badly I just hated the film. Oddly, while Lee and Klaus Kinski speak English, neither does their own dubbing and voices that sound nothing like theirs are used instead. Often, the silliest voices are used--sounding very fake and stupid. However, take note--my review is ONLY for this dubbed version. The original film might be a lot better and worth seeing--especially since some dubbings actually change around the plot and even produce a very different movie from the original.The film is a gangster flick--just the sort of thing you wouldn't expect to see with Christopher Lee--especially since he plays an American FBI man. It begins with one gang of mobsters wiping out another. Then, the mobster who was responsible is shown being deported. Soon after, various rich folks start receiving extortion letters--they either must pay or die! Oddly, in a mistranslation, they call it 'blackmail'--a slightly different crime.Frankly, this is an incredibly dull film from start to finish--despite its extortion plot. With lousy dubbing, bad music and lousy writing, I can't see much reason to waste your time with this one.

German Edgar Wallace flicks from the early 60s - a cheesy kind of cinema, but, as far as I am considered, also a very lovable one. Crime flicks and murder mysteries based on the writings of the British novelist Edgar Wallace were immensely popular in Germany of the 1960s, some of them were also very cool, others immensely corny, and almost all of them incredibly entertaining in one way or another. "Das Rätsel Der Roten Orchidee" (aka. "The Secret Of The Red Orchid") of 1962 would probably be one of the inferior Edgar Wallace films, if it wasn't for two ingenious actors. This cheesy crime mystery does not only star the incredibly sinister Klaus Kinski (as many other Wallace films), but also one of cinema's greatest Horror icons, the almighty Christopher Lee. Lee, who plays an American FBI agent, was dubbed in the English language version, but he can be heard speaking German in the original German version, and his German is amazingly good.Several rich people are murdered in London, and the murders are somehow connected with a gang of blackmailers. Since the crimes seem like the work of Chicago mobsters, American FBI Captain Allermann (Christopher Lee) comes to London to help the investigating Scotland Yard Inspector Weston (Adrian Hoven).The plot itself is quite lame, and full of illogical twists, but the film nevertheless promises pure entertainment. Christopher Lee is a great enrichment as always, but the best aspect of the movie is Klaus Kinski who shines in a very sinister role. Sexy Marisa Mell is once again stunningly beautiful in the female lead, and the comedic part goes to Eddi Aren't who plays role of the butler (once again). This is not one of the highlights in the popular series of Edgar Wallace-based films that were made in Germany between 1959 and the early 70s, but it is amusing light-hearted entertainment, and recommendable for Christopher Lee, Klaus Kinski and beautiful Marissa Mell.

The lieutenant of a Chicago crime syndicate shot down by rival gangster boss Kerkie Minelli's(Eric Pohlmann)hoods, Gunner Steve(Klaus Kinski)sets up new roots in London and is suspected of blackmailing wealthy aristocrats threatening through the use of mailed letters written in block newspaper/magazine clippings not to report to the police or else. Minelli himself, along with his gangster clan, decide to take up residence in London themselves splitting the city in two. Scotland Yard Inspector Weston(Adrian Hoven)convinces his superiors to join forces with American(!)FBI agent Captain Allerman(Christopher Lee),a cunning investigator who understands the methods of these Chicago crime families and their history offering a brand of expertise needed to take down these hoodlums who have possibly led to the murder of several wealthy citizens already. But, are these crime families really responsible for the blackmailing and murders of those aristocrats? Or, are they merely the perfect cover for another schemer? In an important sub-plot, Lilian Ranger(Marisa Mell)watches with her buffoon butler, Parker(Eddi Aren't, the comedy relief of this crime thriller..a running gag has him labeled the "death butler" for he winds up under the employ of every single aristocrat murdered by the blackmailing killer)as her employer, Elias Tanner(Fritz Rasp)is gunned down by hoods in his own home passing themselves off as Scotland Yard guards. His bachelor nephew, Edwin(Pinkas Braun), one known for being quite the playboy and ne'er-do-well, comes home supposedly from Brazil to hopefully receive an inheritance from his uncle's will. Edwin is known as an orchid hunter/enthusiast and often drops by to see Lilian, even after he finds out that his uncle has left the entire inheritance to her. Can Edwin be trusted? Or, is he possibly secretly plotting something? He always brings a unique orchid for Lilian when he visits her.To be honest, this crime/gangster thriller is only notable for it's cast, particularly Lee and Kinski. But, they can not save themselves from the rather dull plot or the atrocious dubbing which causes one to wince..whoever was responsible for the voice-work, which is indeed a travesty to listen to, shouldn't have been paid a dime. It's interesting seeing Mell in this before she'd go on to become an icon in Italian cinema. One thing that just drove me bonkers was the way hoods would shoot people and the camera would close in to show that the victims of bullet-fire had no wounds or even a hint of blood..the effect of Minelli's fate, for instance, is ruined because of a close-up showing not the slightest hint of bodily damage. The film itself is rather a bore, I must admit. But, seeing Lee and Kinski opposite each other, even if for just one scene, is quite a thrill. The film's main mystery is practically ruined by the title!

Yet another film in the long running cycle of Edgar/Bryan Wallace films that flowed out of Germany in the 1960's and early 1970's. This time the story concerns a blackmailer who threatens very rich men with death if they don't pay up. The bodies of those that don't pay are dumped in front of Scotland Yard. As with many of these films its a bit confusing at first with several plot threads wandering through the story (Chicago gangsters, FBI agent, the blackmail scheme) before coming together at the end. Unfortunately this really isn't a story where its worth seeing how it all comes together. The plot is more than a bit unfocused, even by this series standards,There are too many characters and too much comedy so that the film fails to be compelling. My unhappiness with the film could be the result of the English dub which has even Christopher Lee and Klaus Kinski dubbed by other actors who's vocal performances don't even approximate how Lee or Kinski would have done it themselves. The result is that you never really buy whats going on screen. Certainly this would be perfect if you stumbled on it at 2am on late night TV, but I would be hard pressed to suggest actually renting or buying this on DVD and putting it on willingly.