User Reviews

In the wake of 'The Spy Who Loved Me', a number of television pilots unsuccessfully tried to revive the moribund spy genre, of which this was one. Written by Jimmy Sangster ( co-writer of the 1966 Bulldog Drummond caper 'Deadlier Than The Male' and the 'Touchfeather' novels ), it starred Dale Robinette as Robert Sands, a C.I.A. agent assigned to investigate the mysterious death of a fellow agent, who had claimed to have seen 'flying saucers'. The 'saucers' are not interplanetary space vehicles, but dome-like structures designed to shield the arch-villain Horatio Black from ultra-violet rays. Black intends to destroy the ozone layer unless his extortionate demands are met. Whilst hardly in the same class as the Bond films, 'Threat' boasts a few decent action sequences and gadgets, plus the marvellous Patrick Macnee in a role very different to Steed. Dale Robinette, however, is miscast as Sands, and lets the whole thing down. Despite being superior to 'Death Ray 2000', there was no spin-off series.

Dale Robinette plays a James Bond type character out to foil a mastermind who plans to extort a billion dollars from the government by threatening to destroy the ozone layer. There are the usual "Q" type gadgets here, from the burning dental floss to the shotgun that shoots missiles. While not Academy Award material, this film has plenty of thrills worthy of a good TV movie, sport.

I recently watched Billion Dollar Threat (1979) on Tubi. The storyline revolves around an evil, diabolical villain with plans to hold the world hostage by destroying the ozone layer unless a hefty ransom is paid. The question remains: can anyone stop him?

Directed by Barry Shear (Wild in the Streets), the film features notable actors, including Dale Robinette (Death Wish 4), Ralph Bellamy (His Girl Friday), Keenan Wynn (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), Patrick Macnee (The Avengers), and Robert Tessier (Hard Times).

This movie can be described as a budget-friendly take on the Bond genre, lacking the charm and sophistication of its main character. While the premise held promise, it falters in execution, despite some commendable sets, costumes, and props. Unfortunately, the action scenes fall short, ranging from average to disappointing, ultimately leading to an anticlimactic ending that left me underwhelmed. It's apparent that the film's limited budget constrained its ability to deliver the excitement the audience desired.

In conclusion, Billion Dollar Threat caters to Bond genre fans but falls short of expectations. I would give this a 4/10 rating and suggest skipping it.

A total James Bond rip off, but i don't know why is pleasant, watchable and even hypnotic. Good photography and locations.