Swinging Sixties Cinema Meets Feminist Plot Twist

Read Time:4 Minute, 41 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Million Eyes of Sumuru
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Genre: Action, Adventure
Year Released: 1967, 2024 Blue Underground 4K
Runtime: 1h 39m
Director(s): Lindsay Shonteff
Writer(s): Kevin Kavanagh, Harry Alan Towers, Sax Rohmer
Cast: Frankie Avalon, George Nader, Shirley Eaton, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Klaus Kinski, Patti Chandler, Salli Sachse, Ursula Rank, Krista Nell, Maria Rohm, Paul Chang Chung
Where To Watch: available now here: www.mvdshop.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Delving into the wild 1960s, THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU emerges as a creation of satire and intrigue, painting a stroke across the landscape of classic cinema. Directed by Lindsay Shonteff, this film swirls the campiness of the era with a unique spy narrative. Once the golden girl of the classic James Bond thriller GOLDFINGER, Shirley Eaton transforms into Sumuru, the architect of a daring plot to dismantle male-dominated power structures. Although the film attempts to subvert traditional gender roles, it often misses the mark, sidelining more profound narrative potential in favor of surface-level spectacle.

THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU is a feast adorned with the outlandish style and flair typical of its time. From the striking costume design to the ambitious set pieces, every frame pulses with the essence of the sixties. Sumuru’s headquarters, a fortress brimming with traps and opulence, stands out as a treat.

Character portrayals in THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU add charm and complexity to the narrative. As Nick West, George Nader infuses the film with a debonair wit, especially in scenes opposite Frankie Avalon's Tommy Carter, whose comedic timing brings a lighter touch to the spy antics. Klaus Kinski delivers an eccentric performance as President Boong, complemented by the talents of Maria Rohm and Wilfrid Hyde-White, who round out a cast that guides the film’s tonal swings from dramatic to absurd.

The screenplay of THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU alternates sharp humor with scenes that might make modern audiences wince, reflecting the era’s grappling with evolving norms. While aiming to critique and satirize outdated gender stereotypes, the film sometimes paradoxically reinforces them, detracting from its more progressive intentions. This oscillation between empowerment and stereotype crafts a narrative that, while engaging, often feels disjointed and underexplored.

One of the film’s undeniable strengths is its wholehearted embrace of the camp aesthetic. The over-the-top dialogue and fantastical plotting create a memorably whimsical experience. Though not cutting-edge, the action sequences are delivered with enough gusto to maintain a lively pace and entertain the audience.

Enhanced by a meticulous 4K restoration, THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU has been revitalized for contemporary audiences. It presents sharper visuals and enriched sounds that breathe new life into its intricate production details and colorful palette. This version also includes additional footage, offering a more comprehensive view of the film’s creative vision and expanding its narrative depth.

Despite its ambitions to subvert genre conventions and challenge norms, THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU ultimately conforms more closely to the expectations of its genre than it transcends them. The film’s revolutionary potential is often overshadowed by its adherence to some of the very tropes it seeks to overturn. A more nuanced script and character development might have elevated Sumuru from a mere antagonist to a compelling anti-hero, imbuing the film with a richer critique wrapped in its spy-thriller exterior.

THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU stands as a captivating relic from a bygone era, a testament to the audacious spirit of 1960s cinema. It offers a window into its time's stylistic and narrative experiments and reflects on how far cinematic storytelling has evolved. For those drawn to the charm of vintage films or the allure of retro aesthetics, this film provides a delightful blend of humor, suspense, and nostalgia, inviting audiences to indulge in its unique cinematic flavors.

Bonus Materials:
Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) and HD Blu-ray (1080p) Widescreen 2.40:1 feature presentations
Audio: 1.0 DTS-HD MA (English)
Subtitles: English SDH, Francais, Espanol
NEW! Audio Commentary #1 with Film Historians David Del Valle and Dan Marino
NEW! Audio Commentary #2 with Film Historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth
NEW! England’s Unknown Exploitation Film Eccentric: The Schlock-Cinema Legacy of Lindsay Shonteff – A new feature-length documentary directed by Naomi Holwill (101 Mins.)
Theatrical Trailer
Poster & Still Gallery
NEW! RiffTrax Edition – THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU Riffed by Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett & Kevin Murphy (71 Mins.)

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[photo courtesy of BLUE UNDERGROUND, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

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