I'm not sure whether to describe this film story as misogynistic or misandrist, but it seems to be a combination of both. It concerns a cartel of women (led by Shirley Eaton of "Goldfinger") who are determined to take over every government of the world, kill off as many men as possible, and attempt to live in peace and Harmony. Note: attempt. Eaton has any woman or even glances a man's way romantically knocked off, and that puts the two male leads, Frankie Avalon and George Nader, in jeopardy. Spider woman Eaton is charming on the surface, but there's something in her eyes and the way they are made up that makes it clear that she is truly evil. Even her outfits and cigarette holder indicate that.
One-note female characters don't really add any sympathy to the majority of the women's roles, outside of the ones who have romantic inclinations and get ceremoniously bumped off. It's exotic-looking, but it's hard to gauge what the point of the man hating is supposed to achieve. Wilfred Hyde White adds the only amusement, but the film overall is really unpleasant. The script gives the men the most idiotic lines, all sexual insinuations that only seek to portray the male species as sex-crazed barbarians. After a while, the stupidity of the whole thing just becomes too much to bear, with the more beautiful the woman presented as even more diabolical than the others. Without a doubt, one of the worst Bond ripoffs of the 60's.
The Million Eyes of Sumuru
1967
Action / Adventure / Comedy / Crime / Thriller
The Million Eyes of Sumuru
1967
Action / Adventure / Comedy / Crime / Thriller
Plot summary
Sumuru is a beautiful but evil woman who plans world domination by having her sexy all-female army eliminate male leaders and replace them with her female agents.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
June 28, 2016 at 03:38 AM
Director
Top cast
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We have one weakness that must be rooted out and destroyed. Love.
Looks nice but lacks substance
THE MILLION EYES OF SU-MURU is one of the millions of Harry Alan Towers-produced movies made during the 1960s that were usually filmed in various exotic locations; Hong Kong was the choice for this one. Based on a Sax Rohmer story, this is a film which serves to emulate the popularity of the Christopher Lee-starring Fu Manchu movies which were being made at the same time, except with an all-female twist.
Sadly, it's a bit of a boring affair, a definite case of style over substance and a film which feels rather insipid and tame when watched with modern eyes. Shirley Eaton (GOLDFINGER) is the titular foe, who sends her all-woman army out to kill various world leaders in a bid for world domination. Only two men can stop her: the wooden George Nader (ROBOT MONSTER) and the equally wooden singer-turned-actor Frankie Avalon.
What follows is light, fluffy, and predictable, and this feels much like the Italian Bond rip-offs that flooded cinemas during the late '60s. There are lots of beautiful Euro starlets wandering around showing acres of flesh, a typically bizarre cameo role for Klaus Kinski, and Wilfrid Hyde-White propping up the scenery as he did in many a Towers-produced film. Fans of '60s kitsch might find something to enjoy here, but those who require more substance should look elsewhere. A Jess Franco-helmed sequel, THE GIRL FROM RIO, followed.
Eaton formidable as Sumuru, but flick is a mishmash of clichés
Anti-male syndicate of beautiful female assassins, led by the no-nonsense, whip-wielding Sumuru (Shirley Eaton) at their base of operations near Hong Kong, plots international domination by ridding the world of its male leaders; two wisecracking American agents (Frankie Avalon and George Nader) use their masculine charms to save mankind. UK production, distributed Stateside by American-International Pictures, is a fairly tepid adventure yarn with 'humorous' asides. There are some interesting ideas (any woman who betrays Sumuru by falling in love with a man is automatically targeted for extermination), but not enough imagination or excitement. Eaton strikes a formidable figure as all-powerful Sumuru, and her army is certainly attractive, but film is a mishmash of clichés handicapped further by the casting of puerile Avalon and Nader, both lead weights. Eaton played Sumuru again in 1969's "The Girl From Rio". *1/2 from ****