THE INTELLIGENCE MEN (1965) **1/2 Morecambe & Wise (Eric & Ernie, for the uninitiated) take on the spy game, with signature lack of intelligence. Oh, what fun! How we miss Russians behaving badly, or at least our taking such notice of it. This is British comedy on the cusp, after it was already infected with Peter Sellers but before "The Goon Show" busted it into hyperspace. In other words, not understated anymore. Liberated! They dress in silly suits, do ridiculous dance routines, oogle every woman who's a woman-and one who isn't-and just generally confuse every possible situation in the most endearing manner. You may choose to take James Bond seriously, but they don't and insist that they're right about the whole thing. And they probably were, mainly. I'm shocked, shocked, appalled, that Gloria Paul didn't get more work like this. She's brilliant at it, perfect, she would have been one of the best Bond Girls ever! Apparently she was considered but they made a mistake. Gloria is the most glorious Mata Hari of the harebrained...she just makes every one of her scenes exactly what it's supposed to be. I guess that makes her best Bond Girl that never was. Which ain't high art, but is high entertainment. Very, very high, indeed.
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