16th November 1967
Jersey-set film Danger Route opens
Jonas Wilde, a British secret agent with a licence to kill, is dispatched to assassinate a defecting Czech scientist. In the process of successfully killing the scientist, he uncovers a deeper plot to knock off British agents, seemingly organised from Jersey.
In its review of 6 June the following year, the New York Times noted that “what hoists ‘Danger Route’ to the level of pretty good pulp melodrama is the incisive dialogue, especially the clipped direction of Seth Holt, who gathers it all up at about mid-point, and hurls it at the camera.”
A mixed reception
The Mirror had been less impressed, writing the day after its release that “this is a fairly tepid entry from the spy stable… a few kicks but on the whole this might better have been called ‘Danger Routine’.”
The lead character, Wilde, as well as having a licence to kill, has another James Bond connection: actor Richard Johnson who portrayed him had been considered for the role of James Bond when the producers were casting for Doctor No, but he’d been reluctant to sign on for a multi-film deal. Thus, the role went to Sean Connery instead.
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Other events that occured in November
Dispute breaks out over ownership of a road
- Mademoiselle de Carteret claimed ownership of a street running off it at the Royal Court, along with her private right to use it.
- Read more…
Ian Hislop’s Jersey connection revealed
- Presenter, writer and editor Ian Hislop discovered that he had connections to Jersey on the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are?
- Read more…
Jersey and Guernsey decide to merge lotteries
- Jersey and Guernsey had been running separate lotteries before the decision to merge them was taken in 1972.
- Read more…
Jersey-set film Danger Route opens
- Danger Route told the story of a Second World War plot to knock off British scientists, masterminded in Jersey.
- Read more…