99 and 44/100% Dead (1974)

I had high hopes for this, on the basis of various claims as to its quirky black humour, but began to tire of it pretty early on. Its just not funny enough and often ends up just seeming silly. A big problem for me was the very low key performance from Richard Harris and the fact that with his weir hairdo and glasses looked like Woody Allen. That in itself needn't have been a problem but Harris just didn't seem to be able to indicate for us whether something was meant to be serious, poignant or just a joke. bothering me all the time was the fact that Woody allen, on the other hand, would have been very able to do this. There are some decent sequences but despite the lovely pop art credits, this seemed to go downhill very quickly. I note that Harris married his co- star afterwards, maybe his attention had been elsewhere all the time.

I suspect that Frankenheimer (who directed some of my all time favorite films) was aiming for a Bond spoof but this one blows up in OUR face ... there's no excuse for it. The movie looks great, the cast is top notch (that is, most of the male cast), the women are gorgeous in a 1970's woman-child kinda way ( ... and riotously BAA-AAD actresses). Coulda been a fun night out if you were bombed on Maui Wowee but I suspect cannabis would've been useless. This is just a Beautiful Mistake. Nothing to recommend it -- unless ---- you're needing costume and hairstyle references for the hipsters ca. 1974. A bomb ... well, more like, 99 and 44/100% DUD.

The title refers to the now very old Ivory Soap claim of 99 and 64/100% Pure - and there is another "old" meaning for 'pure' that would be known to Frankenheimer and Dillon. It's another word for the material tanners would use in browning leather - dog turds. This should have been a clue to the humor to follow.This is an interesting and odd film.

The critics hate this movie (Maltin included) because they can't place it in a category. It is not a serious mob film (Godfather) nor is it a comedy (Johnny Dangerously) nor is it bumbling mob dark comedy (a la the recent Bruce Willis - Matthew Perry vehicle). Rather this is a cartoon. Note the introductory cartoon credits. The opening underwater scenes (two) and closing scene (envelope construction) are absolutely unique to American filmcraft and you don't know whether to laugh or be horrified. The lead character is an Englishman, brought over by an American mob boss and who must take off his glasses to shoot and carries automatic pistols with flowers carved in the ivory grips. Is this over the top or what? The enemy hitman has a hook (due to an amputation at our hero's hands) which he replaces with a wine bottle opener, artifical flowers, pruning shears, etc. Our hero also has a much younger, beautiful girlfriend (daytime teacher - nighttime club dancer wearing a feather top) who waits for his return hoping that this time he will make her his own (see 1000 other movies with that same device). Our hero tutors the younger mob wiseguy and both their girlfriends are kidnapped and abused by Mr. Big. Okay, so some of the movie is cliche and some is esoteric. The ambush at the bridge sequence is as visually stunning as any serious mob film. The shootout at the laundry scene is as good as the same scene in The Fugitive or the ending to Terminator. The sequence where Harry is pinned down by a sniper and his boss resces him by pulling up in an armored Rolls-Royce is great as the actors have their conversation while rounds skip off the roof. This is then followed by driving down a would be bomber who carries a bundle of dynamite like Wyle E. Coyote. Being filmed in Seattle, Florida and Los Angeles you never know whether you are supposed to be in New York or Chicago or where. Look for a Confederate Battle Flag during the parade scene where Harry re-enters the crowd. Look for Burt Young (Paulie from Rocky) as an uncredited mobster escorting Harry to see Bradford Dillman. You will be watching a one-of-a-kind movie, maybe not great or even good, but a movie unlike any other. Enjoy it for what it is.