License to Kill (1964)
Didier Formenter, the French scientist, has just put the final touch on an invention that will be able to destroy to destroy any sort of flying apparatus. An international crime gang is very interested in stealing this equipement to sell it to the higher bidder of lawless nations. Menaced, the scientist, who was friends with Nick Carter's father, calls Nick for help. At Nice airport, Nick Carter escapes death, but that night he is unable to stop Formenter's murder. He suspects Bruno, Formenter's adoptive son, and Tonio, the owner of a bar near Formentier's home. Bruno is actually after Formenter's heritage, and for that he tries to kill Catherine, Formentier's granddaughter. Therefore, Nick Carter finds himself against more than a gang, but he will uncover the plots, in time to break every gangster apart.
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Memorable, crazy movie
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.
Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
It was Henri Decoin's last movie and ,although it's a far cry from his forties best ,it's less embarrassing than his colleagues Pierre Chenal's and Henri Calef's swan songs.As the precedent user wrote,Constantine is too old for the part of Nick Carter and he is mostly remembered for his role of Lemmy Caution in Godard's notorious "Alphaville" .Besides,he does not play Nick Carter but the private eye's son!The film begins with the glorious story of the late papa:he helped Sarah Bernhardt,and was taught to shoot by Buffalo Bill.In its first part ,the movie is some kind of murder mystery a la Conan Doyle then becomes an action-packed a bit tong in chick plot,with a lot of nods to James Bond (a secretary ,model of Monneypenny,and a special watch)and to the yellow peril (the two gang leaders are a poor man's Fu Manchu and daughter).The lethal weapon which is the subject of the plot is quickly forgotten and when it's over,you will probably have forgotten why those people were fighting.The ending drags on ,bit as it was his last movie,Decoin probably wanted to prolong the agony.His son Didier Decoin became a famous writer (and occasionally screenwriter).
Eddie Constantine plays Nick Carter Jr, son of the famous detective and a famous detective in his own right. (Actually I think his son is Chick Carter in the books but I digress). Nick was heading off to a well deserved vacation when an old friend of his father is found to be in danger. Carter changes his plans and heads off to help the old friend. From there the plot spirals out as Carter gets put on the trail of a gang of thieves out to get their hands on a new secret weapon. This is an amusing film that unfortunately is rather by the book, or rather by the Eddie Constantine book. If you've seen any of the Lemmy Caution films or any of Constantine's similar films you'll know what to expect. This is not a slap at the film, it's just the easiest way to describe the film which has Constantine as Carter wandering through the criminal landscape with a witty retort and fists or gun ready for any bit of action. To be certain it's a bit straighter and less tongue in cheek then some of the Caution films, but its cut from a similar cloth. I liked it but at the same time I found I wish I hadn't watched it close to several other Constantine films since they all blended together. Worth a look, but best viewed with some distance from the Lemmy Caution or similar films.