Name this movie

[AndyC]

Don't know what made me think of this, but there is a movie I saw on TV many years ago and have not seen since. My memory is very vague, but it seemed to be a kind of tongue-in-cheek Bond ripoff. The villain's chief henchman was a big bald guy with a mechanical hand, shaped kind of like a mitt, as I recall. At one point, he picks up a rock and crushes it. I also kind of think the hero kept calling him "Sport" in a sarcastic sort of way.

[Fearless Freep]

You're not thinking of "Get Smart" are you?

[AndyC]

Nope. Definitely wasn't Get Smart. I'm pretty sure it was a movie. Might have been made for TV though. I saw it in the late 70s, or thereabouts. Wish I could remember more details.

[Gerry]

It could be one of the Matt Helm movies starring Dean Martin.  I've only seen MURDERERS' ROW, which has a bald guy with a metal plate on his head, but I can't recall if he had mechanical hand to go with it.  There are 3 other Matt Helm films though and it could be one of those.

They certainly qualify as James Bond spoofs, and Dean Martin is really hams it up in his interactions with the bad guys.

Do you remember any other details?

[Apostic]

I was thinking this too, Gerry.  And now it's driving me nuts.  I know I've seen this one.  Trying to dredge up that memory, but I keep hitting that chrome-domed henchman, too.

Man, I hope someone figures out what this is.  I'm starting to wonder if this isn't something out of the Flint eries (which Andrew would know) or Live and Let Die (which most guys reading this are going to know).

regards,

Apostic

[Evan3]

Hmmm, this actually sounds like the cartoon Max Steele, ran from 99 to 2000, are u sure it wasnt this??

[AndyC]

Definitely wasn't Live and Let Die. Seen that lots of times. Matt Helm or Flint could be possibilities, but I think I would have remembered Dean Martin or James Coburn. I was pretty young when I saw it though.

Glad someone else has a vague memory of this. It's one of those movies that is so faint in my memory and so obscure, I almost thought I dreamt it.

[Feathertop]

I believe this may be the pilot movie for the short-lived Robert Conrad series "A Man Called Sloane" (Also known as just plain "T.R. Sloan" for the pilot movie. The guy with the arm was called "Torque" I believe (cute) and the pilot movie may have had someone other than Robert Conrad in the lead role. My own memories of it are kind of vague, too. (Except for the fact that on the short-lived series the sexy computer voice was provided by THE Michelle Carey, who played many a lovely lady on Conrad's Wild Wild West TV show. That is ONE GORGEOUS WOMAN and I always wished we could have seen her in the flesh on the show. )

[Feathertop]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that on the brief run of  the series, Torque, the arm guy became a good guy and was Sloane's sidekick and just like Artemis Gordon on Conrad's Wild Wild West Torque spent most of his time rescuing the Lead Hero from various deathtraps.  
The more I think of it I believe the pilot movie DID have another actor in the role, since I think I saw the pilot movie AFTER I had seen the series and I was disappointed that Robert Conrad wasn't the star.  
(Or maybe the film was made as a SECOND pilot after the Conrad version bombed? Hey,it could happen- look how many times Genesis 2 was reworked. At least the "Dylan Hunt NAME if not the original character finally found a home in Kevin Sorbo's body on whatever Star Trek Spinoff series he's on.)

[Johnny Blister]

Yes,Artie did save Jim from various death-traps,thought he did nothing when those magnetos were strapped up their necks.

[AndyC]

I think you might have the right movie, Feathertop. It sounds very familiar.

I've checked into it, and the pilot was made first, but not aired until 1981. It starred Robert Logan.

Apparently, it was released on video in the late 80s, under the title Death Ray 2000 (a wonder Corman didn't sue), so it might actually be possible to find a copy. So far, I've only managed to locate a German edition of it on eBay. Nice to once again have a movie to track down.

Thanks everybody.

[Apostic]

's funny.  I thought I recalled what AndyC was talking about, but I don't recall watching this movie/tv series.

Ah, well.  Maybe it was on in the background.....

regards,

Apostic

[AndyC]

Well Apostic, I'm still not 100% sure. You might still be right.

That's why I really must find this movie, or at least some stills from it. Now that I might know what it is, it's really driving me nuts.

[Andrew]

I do not remember any metal hands in the "Flint" movies.  However, I do remember an Asian bond spoof that had some western actors and made use of the metal-handed henchman.  I will try to find it.

[Andrew]

I found the movie I was talking about, though it probably is not the movie described by AndyC.  There are four "Mad Mission" movies and they are even available on DVD from Anchor Bay.  Might have to buy that set...