Image copyright © by Marcus Trahan

Up to His Ears

(Les tribulations d’un Chinois en Chine, France, 1965)

The original French title translates as “The Troubles of a Chinaman in China.” It is taken (very broadly) from a story by Jules Verne, of all people. Jean-Paul Belmondo is a suicidal billionaire whose interest in life is revived when he learns he his broke. But there is a contract out on him, and before long literally half of Hong Kong is out to kill him. He is accompanied by Ursula Andress, who amazed me by being much better at delivering her lines than she ever was in English. Belmondo does many of his own stunts, and some of them look quite dangerous in those days before computer wire removal. I would not recommend this one highly, but it might be a good movie to watch on a day when you need some laughs.