Purely Joyful Movie!

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

When this film begins, you learn that agent 007 has died! Soon, the scene switches to a very lazy writer, Whistler (Dirk Bogarde). He's on the dole...and very happy to remain that way. However, he's surprised when he goes to collect his unemployment check...he's told he has a job interview!! Well, he has no choice...either go to the interview or no more relief! So he goes...showing up late and initially putting little effort into the interview. But when they offer him an enormous sum to work for them, he's hooked...not realizing that he's just been recruited to become a spy! Why would they want this ne'er-do-well? Well, he speaks Czech...and they need an agent to retrieve something in Czechoslovakia. As for the mission, Whistler STILL doesn't realize how serious it is and that he could be shot for spying! Clearly he's in over his head and it's not at all surprising that the secret police are soon on to him. But how to escape?! He'll have to use his wits...and so far we haven't noticed that he has any!I liked this film because although it was a bit of a spy parody, it was NOT overtly a comedy. In other words, they made it all seem plausible and engaging. You also have to really feel sorry for Whistler! Overall, a surprisingly good film--one that was original and intelligently written. Plus, it stars Bogarde, who was a dandy actor.

Although "Hot Enough For June" (a.k.a. "Agent 8 3/4") was sold as a spoof of James Bond and spy films in general, the movie isn't really a comedy. It is closer to a drama with a number of lighter moments. Though the movie did surprise me in being much more serious than it was advertised, I have to admit that I enjoyed it. The lighter moments are a welcome addition, giving the audience a few chuckles and stopping the movie from becoming too dry and serious. The otherwise serious tone of the movie is also well done. The movie doesn't stay long in one location, which keeps the movie moving at a pretty brisk pace. And when things start to get very serious for the hero, with his life being at stake, I have to admit that I was pretty captivated. It also helps that the character is pretty smart instead of being an idiot. Maybe the end results won't stay in your mind for a long time after the end credits start rolling, but the movie is engaging from the opening to the end.

Released in the wake of 'From Russia With Love', 'Hot Enough For June' was one of the earliest 007 spoofs. 007 is referred to ( reportedly killed in action! ) in the opening scene. Nicholas Whistler ( Dirk Bogarde ) is dragged out of the dole queue, and sent to Prague by what believes to be a glass-manufacturing company. In actual fact, he is being used as an unwitting secret agent by M15, to recover a stolen Communist formula. Once Whistler realises the awful truth, the film turns into 'The 39 Steps' revisited! Bogarde plays Whistler much like Dr.Simon Sparrow, the best performances come from the irreplaceable Robert Morley as the delightfully droll Colonel Cunliffe, and gruff Leo McKern as his Russian opposite number. Sylva Koscina provides glamour as McKern's daughter, with whom Whistler falls in love. Ralph Thomas expertly mixes the comedy and suspense, the audience is cheering Whistler on as he makes a desperate attempt to enter the British Embassy in Prague at the climax. Good fun.

I remember this film used to be shone on PBS, now and again, and I always looked forward to watching it.(this was before VCRs, so I caught it when it braodcasted) It was one of the better low key spy films to come out during the James Bond phenomena of the mid 60's, a light comedic film that turned into a good suspense thriller by the end. I hope somebody acquires a good print and puts it out on DVD.