Fathom Reviews

From the opening title sequence panning up Raquel Welch's legs, this is everything a sixties spy movie should be - colourful, full of beautiful women, exotic locations (Spain is used nicely) and a nice title track. But it’s a spoof. Welch turns in a brilliant performance as Fathom, a skydiving ace, sent by British intelligence to find a nuclear bomb triggering mechanism which turns out to be an expensive Chinese relic, hunted by many all claiming to be allied agents. The resourceful and strong-willed Fathom is thus torn between 3 men (Anthony Franciosa, Ronald Fraser and Clive Revill, who is particularly rediculous ) all with villainous qualities, as to who is the real detective. I suppose the film plays out like a cross between The Man From U.N.C.L.E and Once Upon A Time In The West, but the whole affair is rather tedious after awhile. It’s worth seeing for Welch and the terrific bull-fighting scene but the humour really, really falls flat on its face and the climax drags on and on.

2/5