User Reviews

MASTER PLAN: capture that spy! A restrained yet witty, surprisingly entertaining parody of the James Bond/spy genre so prevalent during the Cold War of the sixties. Keep in mind that the connection to Bond may be based on the fact that agent 007 was killed at the end of the original novel version of "From Russia With Love." The hero and main character (Bogarde) is not actually a spy - that is, trained for or knowledgeable of the arcane profession. He's actually a bit of a layabout, an unpublished writer content with collecting unemployment to get by. He's not even truly interested in getting a job, but when the prospect of a good salary unexpectedly comes up, he's unable to resist the offer. He thinks, based on his meeting with his new boss (Morley), that he's being sent to Prague on typical corporate business and because he understands Czech. Some warning signals go off in the back of his mind with the thought of going behind the dreaded Iron Curtain and using a code phrase (the title of the film) as part of his instructions. Well, he should have heeded those signals more. It's intriguing that he doesn't know who his contact is - the return code phrase has something to do with September - and this sets up some amusing scenes.

Bogarde is excellent as the slightly naive but nevertheless intelligent, quick-on-his-feet dupe. The story bogs down just a bit as he acquaints himself with the new locale but it really kicks into full gear when he's finally targeted by the enemy (headed by McKern). The audience and the character himself find out that he's actually pretty well suited for the cloak-and-dagger business, much to our astonishment. The actress Koscina had a more flamboyant role in the similarly imitative "Deadlier Than the Male," but she exudes a lot of sultry appeal here. And old pros Morley and McKern show how such experienced thespians can add much to such a film. Since much of the story's premise points to the pointlessness and 'running-about-in-circles' of the espionage business, this translates into a rather frivolous, pointless overall scheme for the film, but you're engaged while viewing it. Also, this early in the decade, this was more derivative of the early "From Russia With Love"-style of the 007 thrillers, rather than the 'world-threatening/domination' plots of later imitators, such as Flint and Matt Helm. And, I'm still trying to figure out the meaning of the alternate title, "Agent 8&3/4." Hero:8 Villain:7 Femme Fatale:7 Henchmen:6 Fights:5 Stunts/Chases:5 Gadgets:4 Auto:6 Locations:6 Pace:6 overall:6

A better-than-average spy thriller, the film is sort of like a combination between James Bond and 'North by Northwest'. It has an awful number of lame jokes in the mix, but in compensation, there are many amusing moments to be had along the way. Set and made during the time of the Cold War, there are almost unavoidably overly silly, mocking portrayals of the Communist characters, however in such a light-hearted film as this one is, silly supporting do not pose much of a problem. Generally, this is just enjoyable stuff, nothing heavy but still entertaining, and at times quite sexed up too, without overdoing it.

This film is very funny indeed, because it was well directed by Ralph Thomas, who could sometimes make terrible films, such as SOME GIRLS DO (1969, see my review). But primarily the film is carried by the superb and delicately delivered performances of those three old pros, Robert Morley, Leo McKern, and Dirk Bogarde. They all knew so well what they were doing that they could always direct themselves. McKern had a passion for Indian food, and I often used to sit near him in the Shahbhag on Roslyn Hill, as he scoffed his curry, but I never thought it tactful to speak to him, as disturbing a man at his curry is simply not the done thing. McKern's greatest acting triumph was his performance as Peer Gynt, in the play of that title by Ibsen. I saw that extremely long and brilliant production at the Old Vic in a long-gone era, but have never forgotten that McKern was a classical actor of enormous stature, and if he had not had such a rumpled face and a funny expression, he might have done more to prove it to people. This film has an absurd story which is satirically and lightly done, so that it all ends up being just lots of fun on the principle of: Who cares if it's ridiculous? It works. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. You take your life in your hands when you try to make a satirical comedy. John le Mesurier provides solid backup, as usual, making his comical long face and joining in the fun of pretending to be a spy. Everyone in the film is either a spy or pretends to be a spy or doesn't know he is a spy because nobody has told him. During the Cold War we needed this kind of comic consolation sometimes, because the realities were so grim. There are also some pointed jokes about people sponging on the dole, lazy chaps who claim to be writers and will one day write a great novel but never do (Bogarde plays this for all the laughs he can get), and there is Sylva Koscina having fun falling in love with him whilst spying on him in Prague. All good solid sixties nonsense. And there is a wonderful 'in-joke'. At one point Bogarde is looking at a newspaper, and a secondary story which most people would not notice is headed: '"I'm not a spy!' says Ralph Thomas', Ralph Thomas of course being the film's director. Lots of laughs on the set, I'm sure. 'And now time for a pint,' I suspect.

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.

Despite occasionally amusing passages this engaging spoof of the nascent spy genre is, however, perhaps not memorable enough to be more than an agreeable time passer.

Still, the cast is willing: for most of the film's second half, Dirk Bogarde - playing an unwilling British spy - is forced to sport several ingenious impersonations (waiter, milkman, a typically Bavarian villager, etc.) to evade the pursuing Russian agent Leo McKern. Robert Morley is McKern's British counterpart (but posing as a diplomat) and John Le Mesurier (playing one of Her Majesties' top secret agents) appears in the film's very first (and arguably best) sequence: stopping at what seems to be a reception desk, he proceeds to place on it every kind of gadget one could think of before proclaiming that one of their best agents had been killed and, soon enough, a card showing "007 Deceased" appears on the screen!

Sylva Koscina, playing McKern's Ninotchka-like daughter (who also poses as Bogarde's chauffeur) adds the requisite element of sex appeal to the mix when she becomes enamored with her "boss". Another funny sequence takes place when Bogarde is asked to try out an indestructible glass fabric (the work of a German inventor) by throwing a large rock at it; sure enough, the rock bounces onto the floor when it hits, but as they start walking away, the sound of shattering glass is heard on the soundtrack which prompts the Russian factory owner to hiss "You Nazi swine" to the dumb-founded inventor!

For those of us who were growing up after World War II, there wasn't much about the Cold War that was funny. At least, not during the late 1940s and 1950s. But after Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the U.S. in September, 1959, things began to change. Still on guard and wary of the Soviets, America and Western Europe began to take the Cold War a little more lightly at times. So, films such as "Agent 8 ¾" began to appear. Others have noted the films based on Ian Fleming's James Bond character, and similar spoofs.

But, this was still a time of tension. People were fleeing Soviet controlled countries, and Berlin was one of the last places of escape. So, the Soviets began building the Berlin wall in August 1961. Even after the wall was up, there were occasional daring escapes. Hollywood turned out some excellent films that looked at the escape attempts and other espionage thrillers. "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" came out in 1965. It gave a realistic and excellent feel for the east-west tension in Germany at the time.

I recall an incident when I was in the Army and stationed in Germany, 1962-1964. A friend and I flew the mail plane from Frankfurt to Berlin for a long weekend visit to tour the city. We took an American military tour bus through Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin. We made a stop at the Soviet War Memorial, and as we were leaving, a small group of East German boys approached us. GIs in those days always had gum or candy on hand, and we gave the boys both. As our bus was pulling out, our guide told us that the German Police would take the goodies from the boys. Sure enough, as we watched through the rear window, two cars pulled up and men in long black coats got out and corralled the kids. Hollywood couldn't have staged it any better.

Most of the espionage films during the1960s were combination action, mystery and thrillers. They were interesting and the better ones kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Some had humor. Some of the best were "The Prize" in 1963, "The Ipcress File" in 1965, "Arabesque" in 1966, "The Deadly Affair" in 1966, "Funeral in Berlin" in 1966, "Torn Curtain" in 1966, "Ice Station Zebra" in 1968, and "Topaz" in 1969. A number of spy spoofs also came out in that time, but none were very exceptional. Films other than espionage around the Cold War were quite good and funny. But the Cold War spy spoofs mostly were so-so. "Agent 8 3/4 "is about as good as they got, and it's little more than a light, somewhat entertaining movie. The plot is OK, but the script is weak. There are no great funny lines, and only a few laughs over panning one thing or another about the British or Soviet secret agencies. The actors are good but not exceptional.

Dirk Bogarde is quite charismatic in this rather daft spy story set at the height of the Cold War. "Whistler" is a struggling writer who is found a job opportunity by the local labour exchange. Arriving at the plush office of glass-maker "Cunliffe" (Robert Morley) and his sidekick "Allsop" (John Le Mesurier) he is dazzled by the enormous £40 per week wage and equally bamboozled that they want to give him such a lucrative job in an industry about which he knows zilch. First assignment is a trip to Communist Czechoslovakia where he is to rendezvous with a fellow glass engineer, and after having exchanged the passwords - hence the film's title - swap books and come straight home. Simple? Well, of course not quite. He has no idea that he is being used by his new boss and that the Czech intelligence service - run by "Simoneva" (Leo McKern) is onto him. That latter man even gets his glamorous daughter "Vlasta" (Sylva Koscina) to drive for the man so they can speedily apprehend him - but, of course, that doesn't quite go to plan either! Finally cottoning on to the nature of his predicament, our hapless "Whistler" has to find a way of making it to the safety of the British embassy before he is found "accidentally having fallen from his luxury hotel window". It's a little bit slapstick and over-scripted, but the assembled cast do add a bit of fun to the leading performance that is maybe more reminiscent of his "Doctor..." films rather than his more substantial roles. That said, fans of British comedy films will recognise just about everyone and it's parody of "James Bond" at times can't go un-noticed. Not great, but worth a watch, I'd say.

Chucklesome rather than laugh-out-loud funny, this British spy comedy was obviously cashing in on all things Bond flavored when it first appeared in 1964. Dirk Bogarde, just about earning his pay cheque rather than turning in a proper performance, is the unwitting British agent dropped behind the Iron Curtain by British Intelligence, though as represented by Robert Morley, (always good fun), and John Le Mesurier, it's not that intelligent. He isn't even sure what he's there for except that the password is the film's title "Hot Enough for June". Silva Koscina is suitably gorgeous as the spy who is allocated to Bogarde as his driver while in Prague and there is a good supporting cast that includes Leo McKern, Richard Pasco and Eric Pohlmann. There is very little to it; Lukas Heller did the screenplay and there are a few good jokes. Ralph Thomas directed with no imagination whatsoever.

Splendidly shot, with a bright and colourful look and Padua, Veneto covering for Prague, this is a delight visually. The film also gathers together a host of Brit actors who all put in fine performances. Leo McKern suitable sinister as chief of the secret police and Sylvia Koscina does well playing his sexy daughter and romantic interest for Dirk Bogarde. Bogarde himself is excellent and rides out a lot of the developing silliness with some aplomb. Even Robert Morley, who can be a bit over the top, puts in a very restrained and effective performance. Trouble is, there really isn't a story here. Apparently based upon a prize winning crime novel it is hard to see where the interest lay. Very meagre tale of espionage gone wrong is stretched out so that even the modest running time here seems too long.

The story is somewhat weak and it falls between two stalls of not being funny or being an entertaining or intriguing film. It's no Charade.

There are actors here who can offer very good support, but they were let down by the script unfortunately. It also has the 1960's obligatory foreign actor/actress in to appeal to the foreign market, and Sylvia Koscina fills that role.

For me, the film also suffered with the miscasting of the leading man, and a plot which is not sure which way to go (comedy or spy). Into the mix, it also tries to be a romantic film, and I'm sorry, Dirk Bogarde doesn't convice me on that front here.

I wanted to like this film and I only stayed as there were some encouraging reviews on IMDB. If you are not a Dirk Bogarde fan then you may wish to move on to something else.

I like 1960's movies and this did not even entertain me on that front, although it has a "good look" in that it has not dated in particular, and it's also in colour! I also just about stayed the distance without resorting to finding something else to watch or do. Those are about the best thing I can say about the film. A piece of fluff too far for me. Others like it here, so you may too.

"Hot Enough for June" started as a funny sendup of the Bond movies of its day, but by the end had metamorphosed to a nice combination of suspense adventure and romantic comedy. I wish it was available to see again.

"Hot Enough For June" tries to be both a James Bond spoof AND a serious spy thriller, but in truth it contains very little humor and very little action. What it does have is a lot of cold war espionage - it certainly feels more like a real spy movie than any Bond film of the period, with the notable exception of "From Russia With Love". At the end, the real aim of the film seems to be to reveal the pointlessness and futility of the typical spy games. But since what we just watched WAS a typical spy game, the film ends up feeling pointless and futile itself! Dirk Bogarde is fine as the reluctant spy, Robert Morley is fun as essentially an "M" figure, and the unspeakably gorgeous Sylva Koscina, who starred in several spy movies of this period, reminds us once again what a shame it was that she never got to be a real Bond girl - she would have easily ranked among the Top 3. (**)

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.

The most untalented Dirk Bogarde managed to ruin any film he was involved with, no exception in this one. The story is a rather predictable one and the film shows it's age very clearly. It could have been very much better though with a different leading actor. Bogarde seems always to be thinking something else from what is happening, constantly constipated. It was a different time of course, but the fact that this man made a career in the film industry never stops to amaze me. The rest of the crew performs within the standards of the era, no ups and downs really, the story in it's simplicity borrows elements from older similar ones, nothing bad with that. Sylva Koscina is an adequate actress and a great presence, Robert Morley is a delight as in all his performances, the rest just add up to an oldie that could be very different if the lead actor was anybody else. It's very interesting to observe the way the story telling evolved through the entire 20th century and even later on. Films like this show us very clearly the do's and don't's of film making in general. (Sounds like a museum item and it sure is.) Useful for a limited audience.

"Nicholas Whistler" (Dirk Bogarde) is an unemployed writer who is having great difficulty with his chosen career. So when he goes to collect his unemployment check he is told that there is a job interview he has to attend first. Thinking that it's just a formality and that he won't actually be hired he is surprised when the man in charge of a large glass manufacturing corporation named "Colonel Cunliffe" (Robert Morley) offers him a job as an executive assistant on the spot. And since the pay and benefits are much more than he is accustomed to he accepts almost immediately. What he doesn't know is that Colonel Cunliffe heads a spy agency for the British government and that he needs someone to send to Czechoslovakia to obtain top secret information. In that regard, Colonel Cunliffe neglects to tell him of his actual status as a spy. Neither does he tell Nicholas of the dangers involved. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an okay spy-comedy which might have been better if it had been done in a more serious manner as the humor seemed to fizzle around the middle half of the film to be taken over by action and suspense from then on. As a result, the viewer is left with either a mild comedy on the one hand or a mediocre spy film on the other. But nothing of any real significance. Regardless, Sylva Koscina (as the chauffeur "Vlasta Simoneva") was clearly capable of handling her role in either capacity as she dominated every scene she was in with her beauty and charm. Be that as it may, while this may not have been a great film by any means, it was adequate enough for the time spent and I have rated it accordingly.

I did enjoy this film, but the reason for saying above 'if you don't think too hard' is that after watching it, the thing that stuck in my mind was that Nicholas (Dirk Bogarde) seemed to adapt to the situations he found himself as a spy rather too easily for someone who is supposed to be an unemployed writer. That aside the film is a little difficult to categorise, IMDb call this a comedy, and it starts out in the same vein as the "Doctor" films that Dirk Bogarde made, but it changes to what I would classify as 'Light Drama', and that makes it much more interesting.

Overall the acting was good but not outstanding, and I would recommend it for an evenings entertainment, provided your idea of an evenings entertainment is something you don't have to think about too much, and you have had enough of sex, violence and obscenity.

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.

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.

Delightful spy comedy with plenty of good humour in its cheeky mix of ironical satire, flippant comedy, serious paranoia, the full terror of a dictatorial police state and diplomatic charm. The introductory scene sets the mood: the remnants of a certain agent 007 are turned in and filed in a box labelled 'deceased' while the caretakers remark on the necessity of getting a replacement. Dirk Bogarde is fished out as a suitable candidate and is appropriately recruited without being informed what it is all about. He is sent on a mission to Czechoslovakia on what seems to be some quite innocent business where he is to be contacted by someone about something. That is all. The Prague authorities welcome him and give him a beautiful driver to show him around, which contact develops into a love affair, but she works for the police, and her father (the formidable Leo McKern) is chief of the secret police. The satirical comedy drastically turns into a political thriller half way into the film with ensuing complications and lots of manhunts and crowded confusions.

The film is gilded by some very enjoyable performances by especially Robert Morley, Dirk Bogarde himself of course, the aforesaid Leo McKern and his daughter Sylva Koscina. It's really very close to the real Czech comedies by Milos Forman and others later on, it's the same kind of intelligent humour, and the film gets better all the time. Ultimately no one gets hurt, so in spite of the serious political business, as it was in Czechoslovakia before 1968, which it gives a fairly correct and realistic rendering of, it's a spiritual and entertaining comedy of some great excitement but all laughs and no tears.

Dirk Bogarde excels in this spy movie.

Although Hot Enough For June also known as Agent 8 3/4 is portrayed as a spoof spy movie in the James Bond mold, the movie is not a comedy although it has it's funnier moments.

It is a thrilling and suspenseful drama directed by Earl St John with some lighter moments.

The movie takes a serious look at spying in the Cold war era and which was very enjoyable.

Whilst the lighter moments are welcome in that it keeps your attention the underlying message highlights the skulduggery that went on at the time.

The movie changes from one one location to another thus moving at brisk and exciting pace.

Mid movie things get very serious for Dirk, when his life is threatened and holds the attention of the audience.

Whilst Dirk is portrayed initially as a bumbling idiot it soon becomes clear than he is smarter than initially portrayed.

Eric Morley excels too and it is good to see Leo McKern on the runway tarmac in the closing scene giving a nice twist when Dirk climbs onto the BEA Vickers Vanguard.

Definitely worth the watch and getting the DVD if available.

One of the few films I always watch when it's on tv and I'm not 100% sure why but I must find it enjoyable enough.