John Sturges’ tight thriller still feels as topical today as it did back in 1965. A secret government lab has developed two new biological weapons — one of them has the potential to kill all living things on Earth.
In a taut opening sequence, thieves smuggle themselves into the facility and steal the germ weapons. The government calls on maverick former agent Lee Barrett (George Maharis, EXODUS) to help find out how the lab was compromised and who was involved. An inside job is suspected — instantly casting suspicion on surviving lab workers Dr. Gregor Hoffman (Richard Basehart, BEING THERE) and Dr. Yang (James Hong, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA). Barrett teams with agent and former flame Ann Williams (Anne Francis, FUNNY GIRL) and her father Gen. Williams (Dana Andrews, LAURA), staying hot on the trail of the thieves Veretti (Ed Asner, TV’s MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW) and Donald (TV’s GOMER PYLE).
The action falls into the category of a thinking man’s thriller where the main character uses his brains not his brawn to uncover the spy plot. Because we know what happened, we're a step ahead of the investigators. Tension is built like we're playing a game of Hot and Cold. The closer Barrett gets to answering the questions we already know we're thinking — warmer, warmer, hot, hot, you're burning up, buddy. Conversely, the plot also leaves just the right bits of information out, which brings us to the edge as the heroes venture blindly into possible danger.
Sturges paces the film nearly perfect using great camerawork to keep us guessing. He is added by the screenplay, from James Clavell and Edward Anhalt based on a novel by Alistair MacLean, which knows exactly when to let us in on key information, thus creating captivating tension. In addition to the great thriller moments, the WMD theme linked to religious or even secular fanatics has not aged at all. The story only missteps in a few sections of clunky exposition, but often finishes those sections off with enough of a punch so that they do not bring the film to a halt.
Maharis plays the laconic lead well. He's a man who can get things done. His rational personality is a nice contrast to the fanatics he is facing. Though he is so recognizable as Mary's station chief Lou Grant, Asner is actually quite convincing as hired muscle. I'm sure he's glad he wasn't type cast in those roles for his career, but it's fun to see him in a different menacing type of role.
With the film coming a year after GOLDFINGER, SATAN BUG was Sturges response to the popularity of the Bond series. Unlike the third Bond film, this picture relies on realism over stars, set pieces and iconic cool. As procedural spy stories go, this one is first rate, consuming your attention like a virus.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
