Where the Bullets Fly
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Comedy spy film |
Where the Bullets Fly is a 1966 British comedy spy film directed by John Gilling, featuring performances by Tom Adams, John Arnatt, Dawn Addams, Tim Barrett, and Michael Ripper. Adams and Arnatt returned to their characters from the 1965 film Licensed to Kill.
Plot
The story begins with terrorists targeting the Palace of Westminster using a guided missile, but their plan is foiled by a group of elderly women who are, in fact, disguised commandos led by Agent Charles Vine and his deputy, Lt. Guy Fawkes.
The central narrative revolves around the Royal Air Force conducting tests on "Spurium," a covert lightweight metal that enables nuclear aircraft flight. A villainous faction, headed by Angel, seizes control of a DC-3 plane through hypnotized guards, though the RAF manages to shoot it down.
Concerned about further threats, Vine is tasked with protecting the project. Angel’s group abducts Vine and substitutes him with their operative, Seraph, who steals Spurium intending to sell it to the Soviet Union. However, Seraph is suspected of betrayal and subsequently eliminated by the Russians.
Vine escapes captivity and partners with RAF Flight Lieutenant Felicity "Fiz" Moonlight. Angel’s forces launch a full-scale attack on the airfield to capture the next nuclear aircraft. During takeoff, Vine and Angel find themselves aboard the plane, but Moonlight rescues Vine in time.
Cast
- Tom Adams as Charles Vine
- Dawn Addams as Flight Lieutenant Felicity 'Fiz' Moonlight
- Michael Ripper as Angel
- Tim Barrett as Seraph
- Sid James as mortuary attendant
- Wilfrid Brambell as train guard
- Joe Baker as minister
- John Arnatt as Rockwell
- Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Thursby
- Marcus Hammond as O'Neil
- Tony Arpino as butler
- Michael Balfour as band leader
- Tom Bowman as Russian Colonel
- Maurice Browning as Cherub
- Michael James Cox as Lt. Guy Fawkes
- Sue Donovan as Celia
- Peter Ducrow as Prof. Harding
- James Ellis as Flight Lt. Fotheringham
- Heidi Erich as Carruthers
- Suzan Farmer as Caron
- Michael Goldie as labourer
- David Gregory as R.A.F. Sergeant
- Gerard Heinz as Venstram
- John Horsley as Air Marshal
- Charles Houston as co-pilot
- Patrick Jordan as Russian
Production
Cooperation from the Royal Air Force allowed filming at RAF Biggin Hill. For its release in the United States, some dialogue was modified: the initial parliamentary satire was shortened, and during Seraph’s mention of Secret Service headquarters, "Biggles" was replaced with "Batman."
Originally, the movie was announced under the working title The Third Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World.
Reception
According to The Monthly Film Bulletin, this sequel to Licensed to Kill emphasized comedy more than finesse, delivering energy but lacking subtlety. While Michael Ripper and Tim Barrett received commendations for their villain roles, the script was criticized for depending on obvious jokes and including cameo appearances by Sidney James, Wilfrid Brambell, and Joe Baker that seemed unnecessary. Dawn Addams’s character was also regarded as insufficiently developed.
Sequel
The third film in the series, titled Somebody's Stolen Our Russian Spy (1976) and alternatively known as O.K. Yevtushenko, was produced by James Ward with a screenplay by Michael Pittock. Under the direction of José Luis Madrid, the production took place entirely in Spain, marking a departure from the prior films' UK-based settings. Tom Adams reprised his role as Charles Vine.