Key of Keys
Director: Senkichi Taniguchi
Year: 1965
Rating:
6.5
Aka - Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Kagi no kagi
Aka - International Secret Police
After one of the women asks the man she
just had sex with, "How was it?". He replies, "Like eating a flaming steak".
I am still trying to figure that one out. Is that good or bad? Have I been
missing something? It sounds dangerous. Especially with Akiko Wakabayashi
(You Only Live Twice) who can set anything on fire.
After Bond, the world. Japan was fast off
the mark when Dr. No became a big hit in the country. Within a few months
Toho came out with the first in a five-film series - Kokusai himitsu keisatsu
(International Secret Police). This was a Global Organization that fought
crime and terrorists. The first in the series was Interpol Code 8. They all
star the suave handsome Tatsuya Mihashi as agent Jiro Kitami. Unfortunately,
I have not been able to locate the first three in the series. This is the
fourth and the fifth is The Killing Bottle produced in 1967, which I have
as well. Would love to get the first three, if they are similar to this one.
They are drenched with bright primary colors, dour villains, gadgets and girls,
girls, girls with the lecherous Kitami never one to shy away from trying
to seduce them. Those were the days when a spy had to spend a good portion
of his time trying to sleep with every pretty girl in the film. I hope for
his sake that he is more successful in the other films. His batting average
here was .000. Ichiro Suzuki he was not.
He is stationed in the Middle East nation
of Tonwan. We first meet him in a car parked right below the walls of a prison
making the moves on a prostitute. Which strikes me as odd for a secret agent.
A prisoner happens to escape and lands on his car, kicks out the prostitute
who pickpockets his money on the way out of the car. When the prisoner pulls
the face covering off it is our Akiko. He immediately tries to feel her up.
Something he does with every woman. He takes her back to his apartment where
he looks though the keyhole as she showers. I am beginning to wonder about
this guy. Maybe it should be called Hentai Secret Police. Before he can get
very far, he gets conked over the head by two men and finds himself in the
palace of the King of Tonwan. He is offered a job. Along with Akiko who is
a professional safe cracker.
Go to Yokohama and steal $10 million from
Gegen (Tadao Nakamaru), a Tonwan rebel who is making his money through a gambling
ship and drugs. He will also get the help of a Tonton spy. Mie Hama also
in You Only Live Twice. Probably not a coincidence. Kitami tries hitting
on her as well - even when they are chained to the wall. "If only I could
get out of these chains", "You would save me?", "Eventually, but first I
would . . . ". Yes, this is our hero. But once he finally stops pawing the
girls and gets serious, the film gets pretty good as they have to team up
with a Yakuza (Susumu Kurobea) who is happy to betray them at the drop of
a hat. In a room tied up with a cobra on the loose. Both Akiko and Mie had
lots of practice screaming in Kaiju films and do it well here. Once you past
the pervy stuff, this is good fun. Parts of this were used in Woody Allen's
What's Up Tiger Lily - which I admit having purposely avoided all these years.
Now I feel like I should take a look. For Akiko and Mie.
Addendum: I watched What's Up Tiger Lily.
Not something I ever wanted to do but I was curious. This has a good reputation,
right? I thought it was dreadful. Maybe 5-10 mild laughs and the Lovin' Spoonful
in a few numbers. What is odd is that it actually follows the film to a large
degree but makes it an egg salad recipe they are looking for. But even Woody
now says he hates it. And they don't even credit the actors in the film.
