Agent for H.A.R.M.

Agent for H.A.R.M.
	Theatrical release poster.
Directed by	Gerd Oswald
Produced by	Joseph F. Robertson
Written by	Blair Robertson
Starring	Peter Mark Richman; Carl Esmond
Music by	Gene Kauer; Douglas M. Lackey
Cinematography	James Crabe
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	January 5, 1966
Running time	84 mins.
Country	United States
Language	English

Agent for H.A.R.M. is a 1966 science fiction spy thriller directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Peter Mark Richman. It is one of a number of spy thrillers of the time which have conspicuous sci-fi elements. In this case it is the inclusion of deadly spores which turn human flesh into fungus on contact.

It was originally intended that this film would act as the television pilot for a new spy series. However, it was later decided that it should be given a theatrical release instead. It was initially released as a double feature with Wild Wild Winter.

Plot

Adam Chance (Peter Mark Richman), works for an American agency, H.A.R.M. (Human Aetiological Relations Machine). He is assigned to protect Dr. Jan Steffanic (Carl Esmond), a recent Soviet defector who has developed a new weapon which fires spores that upon contact with skin slowly eat the body away.

Following Dr Steffanic's arrival in the US he is taken into protective custody by H.A.R.M. and is placed in a beach house along with his niece and Agent Chance to develop a spore antidote. Here he reveals the communists' real plan, which is to dust all of the American crops with these deadly spores. During their time at this house Chance falls for Steffanic's niece Ava Vestok (Barbara Bouchet), who is later revealed to be a communist spy. After the flat is attacked, Dr Steffanic is kidnapped by European spies and taken to a warehouse. Chance eventually rides in and a gun fight ensues in which Steffanic is exposed to the deadly spores in a valiant sacrifice, and dies. Afterwards, Chance re-appears at the beach house and arrests Ava for good.

Cast

Mark Richman as Adam Chance
Carl Esmond as Professor Janos Steffanic
Barbara Bouchet as Ava Vestok
Martin Kosleck as Basil Malko
Wendell Corey as Jim Graff
Robert Quarry as Borg
Rafael Campos as Luis
Aliza Gur as Mid-Eastern contact
Donna Michelle as Marian
Marc Snegoff as Conrad
Chris Anders as Schloss
Steve Stevens as Billy
Horst Ebersberg as Helgar
Ray Dannis as Henry Manson
Robert Donner as Morgue attendant

Music

on The Damned's 1980 LP, The Black Album, Adam Chase (Chance?) is mentioned alongside Zorro and Corporal Clott in the song The History Of The World, Part 1, which was also released as a single.
In 2009, there was a song of the same name written about the film by punk rock band, The Riverdales

Reception

The New York Times called it an "anemic James Bond imitation".[1]

gollark: Hold on, I'll check the specs.

gollark: I suppose if I "borrow" one from some friends (there are lots around) I could use the radio feature to... send Morse code between two of them at 50m range, or something?

gollark: Hmm, it says here that it also has an accelerometer, magnetometer, and a speech synthesis library for some bizarre reason. Also buttons. I forgot those.

gollark: Yes, with external RAM and storage.

gollark: RAM or flash.

References

Thompson, Howard (January 6, 1966). "Screen: Pale Bond Copy:'Agent From H.A.R.M.' Tops a Double Bill". The New York Times. p. 20.

External links

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[1] Thompson, Howard (January 6, 1966). "Screen: Pale Bond Copy:'Agent From H.A.R.M.' Tops a Double Bill". The New York Times. p. 20.