North Sea Hijack Review | James Bond VS Norman Bates

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I remember Roger saying in his autobiography ['My Word is My Bond'] that he enjoyed working with Anthony Perkins who he described as knowing an endless amount of trivia and seemingly knowing every film ever made! By this point, Perkins had two young sons that he naturally wanted the best childhood possible for so wasn't too picky with his projects at this time though things like the underrated Psycho 2 was still to come. P.S. Please review 'The Wild Geese' for the next Roger film!

[@SomeHarbourBastard]

I second that.

[@BenCol]

Can’t believe they named the oil platform ‘Jennifer’ and the drilling rig ‘Ruth’. They had an opportunity to call it ‘Diana Rig’ and they passed it by. For shame.

[@imfsresidentotaku9699]

But the movie is adapted from a novel titled Esther, Ruth, and Jennifer. The film is merely adapting those names as they appeared in the book (I think), and obviously, Roger Moore wasn't in the book, so I don't think the author even saw the opportunity.

[@jamescooper944]

I have been waiting decades for them to remake (shot for shot) Pyscho 2 with Vince Vaugh! Lol

[@DafyddBrooks]

awww good one :)

[@sashaking1115]

😂😂😂

[@RighteousBrother]

Oh bravo !

[@BenCol]

I’d like to think that, just like how Orson Welles demanded he could do magic tricks in Casino Royale 67 to show the world how good he was at magic in real life, Roger Moore demanded ffolkes be good at needlepoint so he could show the world his brilliant sewing skills.

[@scottjo63]

And do the New York Times crossword puzzle not in 30 minutes but less.

[@davidjames579]

But why did he choose to do an illustration of Blofeld's Terrified Cat from You Only Live Twice?

[@Targisvear]

@@davidjames579 To get even at Connery that there still was less harsh animal abuse in his Bond films?

[@PaulBurgin]

Saw it on TV on more than one occasion some years ago. I do recall finding the character of Kramer intimidating, and impressed by Roger Moore playing against type. As with The Man Who Haunted Himself, he showed that he had a lot more range about him and it is sad he was not cast as such. For example I could easily imagine him playing a cold villain

[@FatNorthernBigot]

I’m 52 and I’ve never heard of this movie. Dyson’s channel is both fun and educational 😂

[@CodytheVictorian]

This movie's been showing up everywhere. Also, appreciate the flip of an American villain fighting a British hero, not uncommon but always amusing when it shows up.

[@doctorlolchicken7478]

I’ve seen a lot of these British 1960s/70s war/spy/thriller movies and they always strike me as mostly extended very well made TV movies, except for the few big budget exceptions. Wild Geese is certainly up there as one of my favorites. I’ve only vaguely heard of this one, but I’ll watch it for Moore.

[@richardharibo]

This is my favourite non Bond Roger Moore film. Loved it as a kid. Quite scary for a young boy in the early 80s and has been rated 15 when uncut. Roger is an amazing actor RIP

[@loftlegacy]

I thought it’s a ffairly good fflilm. It’s nice to see Roger doing something a bit different and obviously having ffun with the part.

[@davidjames579]

For FF's sake, that's a lot of FF-ing

[@loftlegacy]

@@davidjames579 DeFFinately

[@robertsimpson2865]

Agreed

[@zambonsfilmemporium1526]

NSH was the first non Bond Roger film i saw. it left a lasting impression on me because Rog is not playing to type and also i watched the Wild Geese aswell not long after.

[@PauloFerreira-vv4id]

5:12 dude with the glasses is Michael Parks, who not only starred in two Tarantino films (as Sheriff McGraw in Kill Bill and Death Proof), he also played a nasty secondary villain in the second season of Twin Peaks - as Jean Reanult. Not to mention, he had his own show called Then Came Bronson. Underrated actor who deserves to be remembered

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Parks was on his way to become the next James Dean when he first started but he pissed off the wrong people from what I heard.

[@andrewbarton2590]

And Ackerman is played by Anthony Pullen Shaw, aka Angela Lansbury's son. After this film, he went behind the camera working on Murder She Wrote and having a hand in the production later through his mother and father's production company Corymore Productions, who later co-produced MSW with Universal Television.

[@johnrigs6540]

I saw this when it first came out because- as you said - it was advertised as a “ Bond” style action adventure. I remember being pretty disappointed because it definitely was not that lol But I remember thinking it was ok -nothing particularly memorable but watching these actors is always fun. Fun fact - I met David Hedison years ago in a Pharmacy (!) here in NYC. I started talking about Bond,of course, and he said how much he enjoyed the two that he did - but especially Live and Let Die because was actually very good friends with Roger Moore in real life! I guess that’s why that was one of the few times on screen that the friendship between James Bond and Felix Leiter seemed legit and real! So not surprised he was in this film with him also!

[@PetersonZF]

If I had the opportunity to meet David Hedison, I think I would sing the secret code tune from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea to see if he still remembers it. ;)

[@andrewpragasam]

Possibly the last time misogyny was used as a 'lovable' character trait for an action hero.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

A 'What might have been' if your interested: In his book 'A Bientot', Roger Moore states he was offered a role in the Sly Stallone 1994 film 'The Specialist' with a score by John Barry. He didn't state which part but presumably Rod Steiger's villain, but had to turn it down for health reasons. He added once he saw the reviews [it has a 7% rating on Rotten Tomatoes] he was glad he wasn't in it! Still it was a box office hit and it might have been interesting to see Roger in a big American film as a villain even in a pretty weak film. But Roger was more into his humanitarian work by then which is arguably is greatest legacy [and what earned him is knighthood].

[@DafyddBrooks]

I would love to have seeen him in that :) but then again we do have him in The Quest which is a nice little movie if you ask me. I certanly felt like when i saw the movie in 2003 that he could do a another Bond movie if they played to his age. He looked amazing :). If Harrison Ford could do it for indy, so could Roger :)

[@davidjames579]

Steiger plays the character with a Cuban accent, so I wonder if Roger would have attempted that?

[@mb3558]

I disagree - it would have been much worse if he was offered the role! He doesn't have the same presence as Steiger.

[@sandersson2813]

The best thing about The Specialist is the John Barry score and the shagging scene with Stallone and Stone.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@davidjames579 Maybe! [He did put on an Austrian accent for 'Escape to Athena]. I do wonder if they wanted a 'English Bastard' for the villain against Stallone, as they did with Nigel Hawthorne in the previous years Demolition Man so be might have been able to keep his own accent.

[@DBIVUK]

Yes, it used to be on TV regularly in the 1980s (when Moore was still making Bond films). There is another connection as my favourite actor James Mason was apparently under consideration for Bond in 'Dr No' (that wouldn't have worked). Best line is ffolkes's angry reaction when Admiral Brinsden gibes that he must be the sort of man who does the Times' crossword in ten minutes...

[@davidjames579]

Interestingly Mason was to have acted alongside Moore in Moonraker. As Drax.

[@annamariaisland1960]

I recall Roger appearing on the American "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" to promote the film. He showed a clip and then he & Carson proceeded to talk about the next James Bond movie for 10 minutes. So, I didn't bother going to the theatre for that one.

[@stewarti7192]

Yay! This has sentimental value for me, as my granny had a grainy tape of it, and it got a few plays when we visited her. In a similar vein she also had a copy of When Eight Bells Toll, where Anthony Hopkins plays a somewhat unlikely Bond-type agent, in the exotic setting of the west coast of Scotland.

[@tourbillon9617]

Whoever wrote this story was heavily inspired by Alistair McLean. I saw everything remotely resembling an Alistair McLean movie and everything with Roger Moore in those years. Thanks for reminding me of Roger's nuttiest character.

[@RighteousBrother]

Indeed! If someone had asked me, I would have said this was Alistair McLean.

[@RighteousBrother]

This film came out the same year as The Empire Strikes Back, but in every single aspect, you'd think they were released 20 years apart.

[@johnsmith651]

Hope you put The Rocketeer on your list of movies to review! Timothy Dalton is great in it

[@candoentertainment9118]

Dalton was great in The Rocketeer.

[@richardscanlan3419]

@@candoentertainment9118 basically playing Errol Flynn ( who was rumoured to have Nazi sympathies during the war). That was the in joke in this film.

[@Roboshi2007]

the double f actually IS the result of a typo resulting from a few hundred years ago when the capital F looked like 2 f's joined together, people started looking back at old records and making the error that their name had "dropped" one of the f's and added one on to their names. It's similar to how the Y was often the substitute for the letter "thorn" that the english language had but the germans didn't (as german printing presses were the majority used in the UK). the Thorn was pronounched "th" so "the" became "ye" as a result and "thou" became "you" the ye was still pronounced "the" but "you" did change to what we use today.

[@rangergrrrl]

I have a random recollection of Roger Moore talking about this movie in some TV interview. He made reference to the title of the novel--Esther, Ruth and Jennifer, which are the names of the oil rigs--and then laughed about the idea of keeping that title for the movie. He said something like, Now imagine the title Esther, Ruth and Jennifer on the poster above photos of me, Anthony Perkins and James Mason etc etc. Now THAT'S a movie I'd be curious to see. Haha...

[@johnpotts8308]

The description of the film as being lots of planning and little action suggests it might be inspired by Frederick Forsythe works (such as "The Day of the Jackal" or "The Dogs of War"), where it's all about how you plan the thing and the action is all over very quickly (which is probably true IRL, if not in movies). But the main thing I recall from having seen (at least part of) this was the scene where everyone seems to be playing Grandma's footsteps on an oil rig for some reason!

[@scottjo63]

It's a movie I can watch over and over again and I have. The ending always gets me. When Moore has saved the day...well scratch that. The ending starts great when ffolkes get saved by the boy and finds out he's a girl, his line and delivery is perfect, "My God you are a girl, nevertheless Great Britain owes you a great deal.....and so do I"!! (Close enough quote). Then it's medal time, with Moore's quote "Damn lot of nonsense". Surprise, it's not medals, gets me everytime. One of my favorite non Bond movies, "stock characters", or not. I think they all had good lines.

[@adamcollins915]

When I saw Roger was in a film with other famous people called 'North Sea Hijack' I was expecting a big budget 'Die Hard', 'Captain Phillips', 'Under Seige' esq action fest. Espescially after seeing his other big budget non Bond films. However it's pretty low budget & low key. But enjoyable enough.

[@HandofOmega]

Calvin, have you thought about a video ranking the classic 60s spies, from I Spy and Napoleon Solo to the Avengers and Maxwell Smart? Or, for that matter, a review of the modern Get Smart movie (surprisingly good action for a comedy)? Also, are we getting a look at the even more Over The Top sequel to Our Man Flint, In Like Flint??

[@Jiren261]

I recommend "If Looks could kill" (Or Teen Agent as it was known in UK) it's a pretty fun movie. It's a teen spy movie (With some Bond style elements) with some great action and a solid cast.

[@davidjames579]

I could relate to this as a kid. Becoming a Spy while on a School Trip. It's virtually a Live Action James Bond Jnr (that is a recommendation BTW).

[@spencerkindra8822]

This definitely feels like a movie I randomly caught on TV once and had no idea what it was haha. Based on your review, I’ll have to check it out. Side note was anyone else surprised that the movie was released under the title "ffolkes" outside the UK? In my opinion North Sea Hijack is such a cool and obvious title that would've appealed to international audiences. I feel like 9/10 times the studio would've done the opposite; kept the original title overseas and release it as "ffolkes" in the UK since people in the UK would have a much better chance of knowing who that is. I think if your average movie goer in 1980 who lived outside the UK saw there was a movie called "ffolkes" they'd have had no idea what it was about. Also Psycho is your favorite movie ever? Decent choice.

[@jjrbarnett]

It's an action movie that emphasizes characters and planning. It's more about the mission deployment.

[@JoeScaramanga]

I've always loved North Sea Hijack since I was a kid (it was always on TV in the 80s). It's not great but it's a lovely warm blanket of a film. In your criticism of it I kept thinking of the Richard Harris film Juggernaut, a similar idea about terrorists planting bombs on an ocean liner. But rather than a full on action adventure, it's a very low key British take on the idea. It's got a lot of the things you say NSH lacks, and is woefully underrated.

[@abingleyboy]

Just wondered if you ever saw 1997 movie RONIN, With no less than three previous Bond Villains in it, They being Sean Bean, Jonnathan Pryce & Michel or Michael Lonsdale. It has some epic car chases in it too. And Robert De Niro stars

[@davidjames579]

And Jean Reno, who was considered to play Renard in The World Is Not Enough

[@mazdaman0075]

Similar to 'Munich' which starred two previous Bond villains Mathieu Amalric and Lonsdale, along with Daniel Craig himself of course, just prior to Casino Royale.

[@jhjhjhjhjhjhify]

5:06 Lol. I'm a fan of Perkins too, but the writing's not playing to his strengths there at all. The cut to Michael Parks and the other actor out of context makes it look like they're pretty confused about his tough guy act too, haha. Also, for those who don't know him, Parks was a very underrated character actor. The guy played such a wide range of roles I can honestly imagine him doing a good job of playing Perkins' part there.

[@sipope70]

Another good film to look at unless you already have is The Sea Wolves. Definitely an interesting film with many Bond connections

[@adamcollins915]

Believe Roger's performance in this is better than in The Wild Geese. The director wanted to reunite Burton, Moore & Harris.

[@tbrasc0]

I've seen this film a few times on TV, it's an oddity but well worth a watch. The misogyny element is an interesting one, I do like how ffolkes is saved by a young woman later in the film, you can see his hostility crumble as he realises how wrong he was in that respect.

[@davidjames579]

Interestingly, as in Moonraker from the same year. Bond starts by being surprised a Dr can be a woman, and on the Space Station he looks impressed as she knocks out the bad guys, without him doing anything.

[@tbrasc0]

@@davidjames579 interesting parallel, things of their times I guess, though to be fair to Bond he wasn't actually hostile to women Ffolkes is next level.

[@williamblakehall5566]

Yes, it is high, high, hijack time you were able to get to this -- I would have excused your self-indulgence ages ago. You're right, this was the kind of piracy we were expecting (see also the Frederick Forsyth novel The Devil's Alternative, very similar to this, which of course could have made a great flick) but reality would give us the harrowing experience of Captain Phillips. Once again, movies beat reality.

[@MAMoreno]

Now I wish that Moore had sported a beard in his 80s Bond entries. Maybe I could buy those twentysomething women throwing themselves at him if he had been rocking that facial hair.

[@boblowes]

If you enjoy this, you'll love Who Dares Wins with Lewis Collins (an actor who would have made a great 007). It's a cracking movie, inspired by the events of the Iranian Embassy Seige, when the SAS were sent in to free the hostages. Great, solid British thriller.

[@davidjames579]

Fun Fact: Lewis Collins was so into his role that he inquired with his SAS trainers if he could join for real. They informed him he'd first have to join a regular section of the Military, after which time he'd probably be too old for SAS selection. He was actually considered by EON, but apparently came off too broody.

[@garybryant1501]

It has a Alistair Maclean feel to it and is quite enjoyable as a no brain straining romp it does the job and Roger is excellent as Ffolkes and shame he didn't a sequel

[@Risico16]

This ended up on my television right at the climax a few weeks ago and I was very confused as to why Roger Moore was sporting the worst beard I've ever scene and a bright red diving suit, crawling around in a life boat. I didn't catch the name of the film either so I'm glad to have found this video. I'm looking forward to seeing it in its entirety, Roger looked like he had a fun time with it and I love watching the Bond actors doing other projects during their 007 tenure

[@whirlwindjourney]

In the US, it's called ffolkes. At least that was how I first saw it on tv and on DVD. I love this movie. I think it's maybe the best non-Bond movie he ever did.

[@brianmaxim]

A well remembered Sunday ITV throwback. Making such a thing of his character being the complete opposite to Bond did kind of rub me up the wrong way but humour me in equal measures. It was bizarre even though he’s great

[@davesmith-rs1yo]

Really good model sequence. Also being paid in kittens is funny!

[@markjone671]

The director Andrew V Mclaglen has quite a history with John Wayne as his father, Victor Mclaglen starred with The Duke in John Ford's The Quiet Man and Andrew also directed Wayne in the western The Undefeated also starring Rock Hudson. When I first saw North Sea Hijack on it's first TV showing one Friday night on the BBC, I watched it with my mum and my older brother and although it didn't have the expected big action set pieces we still all enjoyed it immensely simply because of Roger Moore's wonderful performance. The film has repeatability simply because of that performance alone. If I may make one brief suggestion Calvin for future none Bond reviews. The films of Alistair Maclean would fit into this perfectly. Alistair Maclean films are barely mentioned these days and it's easy forget or not even realise how popular they were at one time. Between 1961 and 1979, movie adaptations of Alistair Maclean novels were as popular as the James Bond films ever since the first to go into production The Guns of Navarone, which was a huge runaway success. This was followed by Ice Station Zebra. Midway through the 60's the Bond bandwagon was influencing a lot of productions as you know and the Alistair Maclean adaptations seemed to focus very much on espionage with big action set pieces that wouldn't look out of place in a James Bond movie. The first to feel really like a Bond film was Where Eagles Dare (1968). This was made a year before On Her majesty's Secret Service and you can't help watching it now and wondering how much of an influence this was on the Peter Hunt film. It was an original screenplay and concept that was penned by Maclean himself and the only one not based on a pre -existing book. Maclean actually adapted his own original screenplay into a novel and it was the only occasion in his career where the film came first and then the book. As we move into the 1970's, there were quite a few Maclean adaptations and there are at least three Alistair Maclean films in the 70's which are undoubtedly Bondian in nature and were in no doubt influenced by the series. They were When Eight Bells Toll (1971) starring a very young Anthony Hopkins as the James Bond character, Puppet On a Chain (1971) and Bear Island (1979). I'd love to hear your opinion on these movies. Especially if you've never seen them and it's purely from the perspective of first time exposure.

[@sartanawillpay7977]

Andrew V Mclaglen was seen in the early 1960s as the successor to John Ford. Although he never created a masterpiece he made serviceable brawling westerns and action movies until his Hollywood prospects and budgets dried up in the mid- 1970s. He then started directing British action films like the Wild Geese, Sea Wolves and ffolkes. BTW he was 6'7 tall.

[@markjone671]

@@sartanawillpay7977 Wow, 6'7? Well his dad was a big man. Roger Moore was 6'2 I think. He must have towered over the cast and crew. If that guy told you to do something, you'd do it.

[@mikp57]

oh, and let us not forget when mentioning bondian maclean films the satan bug and ice station zebra, the latter featuring danger man (and another onetime bond frontrunner ) patrick mcgoohan! :D

[@davidjames579]

And a Bond even played a Maclean Hero! Pierce played Mike Graham, a spy for the fictional United Nations Anti-Crime Organization in two TV movies Death Train (aka Detonator) and Night Watch. Patrick Stewart played his M equivalent! NW in fact was Brosnan's last role before playing Bond.

[@markjone671]

@@mikp57 I'd actually forgotten about The Satan Bug. Haven't seen that one in years. Ice station Zebra makes me think of a 60's version of The Hunt For Red October but you're right, the plot is a little more Bondian with the race between the Americans and the Russians to reach a downed satellite. Rock Hudson is the submarine captain with Mcgoohan as a mysterious government agent along for the ride. Perhaps an early assignment for number 6 before they kidnap him and send him off to The Village. Be seeing you.

[@twintron]

A few drinks and a new Calvin video. Sunday evening is looking good.

[@O8V2a1]

My friend was just talking about this the other day, because the conversation mentioned the Calcutta Horsemen.

[@Moochtv]

I love the line about the film makers needed a Telly Savalis type and they ended up with Perkins instead! I don't think I've ever got past first 20 mins. Still, great review

[@paulandrew6457]

Fair review worth seeing for seeing Roger playing against type he did used to champion it as one of his favourite roles outside of Bond. He reminded me of James Robertson Justice in this film and I often wonder if that was intentional.

[@PetersonZF]

This was a favourite in our house when I was growing up. I thought Anthony Perkins did pretty well here, actually. That coffee scene used to give me nightmares as a kid.

[@edwardmcirvin8342]

Besides this film, Sir Roger's other Non Bond entries include a film called Crossplot, which I enjoy more for its ties to the work of Gerry Anderson. The film features a Special Effects sequence supervised by the Late Great Derek Meddings, and also includes appearances by Francis Matthews (the voice of Captain Scarlet) and Gabrielle Drake (Lt. Gay Ellis from UFO), as well as an appearance by Bernard Lee (M).

[@BenCol]

According to Roger’s autobiography, Bernard Lee was high on surgical spirit during the making of that film, and ruined take after take by repeatedly and inexplicably saying “What a stupid f*cking hat you’re wearing, madam” to one of the actresses. Which is one of my favourite behind the scenes facts of any film. It’s a shame it didn’t become M’s catchphrase.

[@edwardmcirvin8342]

@@BenCol I'd have paid extra if they had included that as a Bonus Feature on the DVD!

[@davidjames579]

@@BenCol Poor Bernie, reportedly always a Lush on the Bond films. From his performance I never would have imagined it, but he was quite a handful to get his lines right. He also had novel ways of sneaking booze onto the set.

[@robvegas9354]

They used to play this alot on TV back in the 80s here in Australia as 'North Sea Hijack' and it was released on DVD as 'ffolkes'. Usually they would show this on the telly when the cricket got cancelled because of rain.

[@TheAdArchive]

As a kid I absolutely loved this movie. It was one of those films along with Raise The Titanic and Escape From Athena that was always on TV. Anyway... THEY SHOULD TOTALLY REMAKE THIS MOVE... it's a quality idea. I love the slow build of the movie and the bit with the poisoned coffee is great. I think the points you are calling out are unfair, it's a solid movie for its time... I think you're unfairly comparing it to other films... it's a solid Sunday afternoon movie.

[@schizoidboy]

Thinking about it, from what I read many of the officers who founded commando and special operations units and spy units were often oddballs themselves or eccentrics. The character played by Roger Moore in this movie is such a person, but his odd habits and manners simply go with the character making him an interesting character, who isn't some tough guy who looks like a commando with the traits we expect to go with the character. In other words he's not a "Gary Sue" character, which makes him a better character.

[@al007italia]

I remember seeing this when it came out as "ffolkes" here in the US> I enjoyed it, but definitely not a great movie. Yes, Moore gave the best performance, & as a cat lover, his character being a cat lover was great. I thought Perkins did a better job than you did, not up to some of his better stuff, but he was believable to me. Beyond "Psycho" one of my favorite performances of his was as Hector McQueen in "Murder on the Orient Express". (& I will resist going into a long rant about how the recent remake Kenneth Brannagh remake was nowhere near as good as the '74 version.) Most of the others were OK, including Micael Parks (playing someone totally different for his "Then Came Bronson" role on television), David Hedison & James Mason. ItFYI: the movie has also been released in the US on DVD as "ffolkes" & in 2019 as "ffolkes aka North Sea Hijack".

[@candoentertainment9118]

What about Roger Moore as Roger Moore in Cannonball Run?

[@johnkennethwiseman682]

Not the only time Bond and Bates worked together. Connery and Perkins were together on Murder on the Orient Express. Kincade as Poirot too

[@billkoenig1552]

Andrew V. McLagen was the son of actor Victor McLagen. He directed some of the best episodes of Gunsmoke and Have Gun-Will Travel. I can't evaluate his work on this movie because I've never seen it all the way through.

[@DafyddBrooks]

At the 1989 Oscars - Roger Moore: "You wanna know what I was doing 32 years ago?" Michael Caine : "No Roger, what were you doing?" Roger Moore : "I was still trying to grow this beard while stroking my cat Enock, Ester Ruth and jennifer, chugging down Mac Arthurs, saving the north sea oil rig and taking out bloddy Norman Bates while wearing my red wet suit and my Where's Wally Hat" Michael : "were ya? Ba dum tssss" I think he said his cats name was Enock???? mmm not sure

[@astrosleep9625]

Hahaha what's the link to that conversation I've seen it somewhere

[@DafyddBrooks]

@@astrosleep9625 its the 1989 oscars for best supproting actor. sean connery, michael caine and james bond (yes you heard me) are at the stand and kevin kline won it that year for his role in a wish called wonder starring R himself :). I wish those 3 actors could have done a film together, an action one at that :)kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2O2lKmqopWArac though i wish River phoenix did get an oscar though

[@DafyddBrooks]

@@astrosleep9625 hope that helps :)

[@b.d.cooper8671]

I love this movie. It's interesting and another good Roger Moore movie that goes against type is The Naked Face. It's worth watching for Roger, but Rod Steiger does a great job in it as well alongside Elliott Gould and Anne Archer. Also, watch for David Hedison playing Roger Moore's brother-in-law and John Kapelos of Breakfast Club fame as well.

[@GrahamDallas]

I originally saw this (most likely on a Sunday afternoon) in the early 80s and have been a fan since, owning it first on VHS and now DVD.

[@clownnworldorder]

I love this film. Almost Every thing about it is great, The idea of hijacka rig, the locations, Roger's performance and character. There's just no way he could make those comments today even of it was on film.

[@adamcollins915]

Remember seeing the video tape whenever in my local video shop. The cover made it look like a big budget Bond film. We didn't have a video recorder so was gutted couldn't watch it. Also had to miss the UK TV premiere so was gutted again. After a long wait, eventually saw it & was underwhelmed. But don't mind it now.

[@pauld6967]

I saw this film (EDIT: as a rental from Blockbuster) but somehow I had completely forgotten about the "Where's Waldo?" hat. LOL

[@nothingtoseehere2336]

2:55 - Woah! Sudden Felix Leiter.

[@atrac88]

I used to watch this on HBO repeatedly when I was 11 years old. Haven’t seen it since. Need to revisit it!

[@CaminoAir]

Moore did play Sherlock Holmes in a TV movie, with John Huston as Moriarty. Patrick Macnee as Watson and Charlotte Rampling as Irene Adler. 'Sherlock Holmes In New York'. Moore just wasn't physically right for the role and his leading man charm (even if he did his best to downplay it) didn't fit the reserved Holmes. It wasn't' a bad performance in any way, but it just didn't gel with the established Holmes.

[@greedycapitalist8590]

I've seen that as KZbin. Moore just didn't "click" in the part, and Macnee played Watson as an idiot, which should never be the case. Plus the relationship between Holmes and Irene Adler was radically redefined. Pity, because it was a generally well-made movie, with a decent crime plot at its core.

[@obelix703]

“Roger, can you do a Scottish accent?” “…No.”

[@LordMelbury1953]

This was one of my Dad’s favourite films. The other one , The Italian Job. ❤️

[@RighteousBrother]

I've always known about this film, but I thought it was like Sea Wolves, I had absolutely no idea it was like this!

[@romero329]

I'm in the same boat as Calvin. Not a great film, but Roger Moore and Anthony Perkins are two of my favorites and seeing them is well worth it!

[@conradklose4545]

Calvin, there is currently a pretty legit rumor about a lego Aston martin db5 in minifigure scale releasing august 1st

[@asch7906]

The wet suit in that color actually makes sense. People working underwater on oil rigs need to be seen, must have been all that they had at hand.

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

Not watched the review- but damn I love him in this. Quality Rogertainment

[@astolatpere11]

Calvin, have you seen "On the Fiddle"? Connery's film before "Dr No".

[@richardfuchs3690]

It's an interesting film, with many quirky moving parts, but it never really comes together. At least Sir Roger looks like he's having a good time. I wonder if the character name is a tip of the hat to Scott ffolliott, the George Sanders character in the Hitchcock spy thriller Foreign Correspondent.

[@paul1153]

I saw this at the cinema when it was first released in Australia. I enjoyed it.

[@menkomonty]

This might be me, but when I see Roger Moore with his beard and moustache and in that knitted jumper and Where's Wally hat, he reminds me of an older version of Cromarty from Portland Bill.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I thought I was the only person who remembered Portland Bill!

[@menkomonty]

@@jamesatkinsonja I've only ever seen a few episodes in my time. It's a pretty nice little kids show

[@davidjames579]

I wonder if Wes Anderson watched Ffolkes before making The Life Aquatic.

[@petereggers7603]

I can remember me seeing this film for the first time and beeing really dazzled by Moore's anti Bond performance... but I liked it every time more I saw it ever since. Btw: The german title of this movie is "Sprengkommando Atlantik" (Blasting Commando Atlantic). ;-)

[@steelpatriot3683]

An absolute corker. This is wet Sunday afternoon hangover bliss for anyone who grew up in the 80's. "Cigarette Kramer?"

[@sashaking1115]

Great video as always, Calvin! Are you going to review Kingdom of the Crystal Skull soon? I’m really excited to hear what you think about it!!

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

James Bond meets Juggernaut! I liked this one, partly because I served in the Fleet Protection Group and we practiced for such scenarios and partly because I'm an ailurophile. You should really do The Wild Geese, it is epic.

[@greatwuta]

This movie is on KZbin

[@securityrobot]

Roger Moore’s solid performance in Shout at the Devil was what was required in North Sea Hijack.

[@SplotchTheCatThing]

Love the vitriol in the way he says "females!" as if even the species doesn't matter XD

[@paulgodden8712]

Shout at the Devil has always been one of my favorite Roger Moore films. Lee Marvin as as costar can’t be beat

[@garrylewis1868]

Hey Calvin, have you seen the 50s james bond tv special? Would love to see you cover it

[@christianemden7637]

I always loved this movie, it is such a thrilling fun ride. The casting is excellent and everybody shines in this movie.

[@JWBabaYaga]

This film was released in 1980, between Moonraker (1979) and For Your Eyes Only (1981)! Here, Roger Moore has visibly aged since Moonraker, and already displays the face he would have in For Your Eyes Only. Maybe the facial hair helped in that impression. “And he doesn’t need a licence to kill” is a good-natured reference to Moore’s status, at the time, as the incumbent James Bond (Agent 007).

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Beards do age actors but often in a good way. Apparently Never Say Never again was the last film Sean Connery didn't have some form of facial hair!

[@JWBabaYaga]

@@jamesatkinsonja , that’s an interesting tidbit. And speaking of facial hair, despite being only 12 years older than Harrison Ford, Sean Connery was totally believable as Indiana Jones’s dad in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989).

[@boblowes]

Aw, I love North Sea Hijack. Its a great film. Maybe I'm biased because it used to be on TV all the time in the 80s,& I grew up in an area festooned with oil rigs.

[@Metaljedipirate]

Would be cool to see you review penny dreadful as it stars 3 actors from the bond franchise with eva green, timothy dalton and rory kinnear

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Probably deliberate given it's creator John Logan contributed to Skyfall and Spectre's scripts and Sam Mendes is an executive producer on the show.

[@edwardmcirvin8342]

I'm actually rather fond of Eva Green's work in the sequels to 300 and Sin City, particularly because she is quite prominently seen Naked in both!

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@edwardmcirvin8342 The 300 sequel kind of shows what it would have been like if she was cast as a Bond villain.

[@edwardmcirvin8342]

@@jamesatkinsonja Yes I agree! Even when Eva Green is "Bad," she's HOT!

[@davidjames579]

@@jamesatkinsonja Vesper's not a villain? Lol

[@wings7117]

Hi Calvin, I re-discovered this film some years ago its quite a good film, Can I also suggest two more non Bond films of Rogers The Sea Wolves and Escape to Athena thanks for the review

[@PanDownTiltLeft]

Saw this in the theater on release. Really enjoyed it. Loved the crossword puzzle bit heh.

[@MrH77]

I enjoyed this when I was a kid seeing my favourite Bond in something different. Roger portraying a completely different character I remember being surprised by how different he was, almost disliking him. Being 9 or 10 was the best time to watch this as there certainly was tension, and I found the hijackers menacing enough; I thought Perkins was great. It always annoyed me how Captain Olafsen pronounced Jennifer whenever he said it 100 times!

[@Welshguy78]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned but 'ff' is a letter in the Welsh alphabet. It makes a 'v' sound. So in Welsh, Ffolks would be pronounced 'Volkes'. Also I noticed the author of the book had a Welsh surname of Davies. Which is pounced Dave-is by the way, not Dave-eez. So that could be the reason why the his name was spelt in the way it was?

[@kirk1701]

Two parts that I thought were hilarious: 1. When James Mason's Brinsden tells Roger Moore's ffolkes that he feels he finishes crossword puzzles around 10 minutes, and ffolkes gets offended as he feels he never takes that long to finish those types of puzzles. 2. One of ffolkes agents mistake him for one of the terrorists and attack him, but ffolkes overtakes him and throw him into the ocean (i.e., he doesn't kill him) -- I don't think ffolkes knew which agent this was. Later, ffolkes phones into his agents to see where everyone is, and he's told the agent ffolkes was looking for was thrown into the ocean. I think I'll get this film on Blu-Ray later on.

[@DBIVUK]

Harris, the agent thrown into the ocean, was the film debut of Tim Bentinck - now better known as David Archer (in the Archers) or the Earl of Portland (in the UK peerage).

[@johnellizz]

ffolkes is adorable since it's clearly Roger Moore's character that he personally invented. If Bond does something, ffolkes does it opposite.

[@spaceodds1985]

Rufus Excaliber ffolkes… the best Prime Minister that never was🤣

[@DafyddBrooks]

aww amazing :)

[@spaceodds1985]

@@DafyddBrooks At least he is honest🤣 Even though he is useless

[@DafyddBrooks]

@@spaceodds1985 i'll drink a mcarthurs to that :)

[@greedycapitalist8590]

Women to be excluded from Parliament. The death penalty to be reintroduced for people who mistreat cats. Whisky to be made available in school canteens.

[@Weazel1]

I remember watching this on HBO when I was a little kid (maybe seven?) and was very disappointed that it wasn't a Bond type film. Roger Moore was my favorite, having seen Moonraker in the theater, so this was very much a letdown to my young mind. I now feel like I need to track down a copy and watch it again after forty years.

[@6611haggis]

Ffolkes giving the kittens a saucer of milk ? He should have known better.

[@robertbodell55]

Calvin would ever consider reviewing any of the James Bond comics from dynamite which have there own continuity of consistent character stables like craig era james bond while also implying events based on the classic novels

[@adamcollins915]

Moore's 73 - 80 non Bond films are always repeated on TV. They are just perfect entertainment at any time & also have other stars in. The exceptions are 'That Lucky Touch' & 'The Sicilian Cross'. TLT would be a perfect Sunday afternoon comedy. TSC would be a perfect midnight film. Layer Cake is the Craig film most repeated.