Baraka X-77 is a neglected but worthy spy flick, overlooked due to Bond mania. Fans of the genre should readily take to handsome Gerard Barray as he works to foil an international plot. Unlike the Bond films, this one is a bit more believable as it relies less on fantastic gadgetry and special effects. The agility and endurance, as well as the charm of Barray's character are the main ingredients which he has in abundance. The sinister deliberate arrangement of the initial passenger plane crash effectively opens the film on an intense, dark note. The action and pace never let up and there are some unforgettable sequences such as Barray fighting a blonde female spy dressed in a nightgown who is expert enough in judo type combat to take him down several times and throw him around the room before she's bested. There are several brutal killings and a memorable, heavy-duty torture and flogging scene of Barray. The main fault of the film is the awful inappropriate music which accompanies much of the action resulting in an unfortunate, rather silly Keystone Kops tone. The cutting is frequently maladroit, with transitions jerky rather than fluid. But in spite of these flaws Baraka X-77 is thoroughly entertaining and will win the dashing continental Barray many new fans who don't already know him or his work.
