Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Double Agent 73 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 26, 2022

Director Doris Wishman had a dream, and after the death of her husband in 1958, she decided to pursue a career in filmmaking, focusing on sexploitation entertainment, hoping to reach an audience with lusty tales of revenge and love. 1974’s “Double Agent 73” is part of her colorful oeuvre, reuniting with “Deadly Weapons” star Chesty Morgan for another tale of danger and desire, this time endeavoring to offer audiences a slight spin on the superspy subgenre, positioning the unmissable star as a 007-type trying to bring down bad guys using many forms of self-defense and assassination attempts that involve a large bosom. Wishman’s a bit more ambitious with “Double Agent 73,” trying to expand on earlier experimentation with action and suspense, and she lands some decent scenes of low-budget fury. The helmer doesn’t provide a sustained level of excitement, but the effort has some memorable moments and genuine craziness to make it an entertaining sit.

Jane (Chesty Morgan) is a secret agent pulled out of her vacation to deal with a growing threat involving Mr. Toplar, an enigmatic heroin kingpin looking to make a major move on the market. Jane’s superiors task her to infiltrate Toplar’s inner circle, using a special camera embedded her in her breast to photograph the villains, helping to identify future threats. Jane sets out to complete her mission, but she’s challenged by Toplar’s men, forced to battle her way out of harm. Some form of peace arrives with Tim (Frank Silvano), a fellow agent who falls in love with Jane, complicating her situation as she gets in deep with Toplar’s enforcers.

“Deadly Weapons” had Morgan’s character smothering men to death, tapping into a special fetish, also identifying Wishman’s unique ideas for campy fun. “Double Agent 73” gets a little crazier, with the usual spy game offer a Cronenberg-ian idea in Jane’s camera implant, which gives her breasts the power of secret photography in tight situation. Why doesn’t the agency simply give her a spy camera? That’s not the idea here, as Wishman’s goal is to keep Morgan topless for as long as possible, studying Jane as she hunts for documents and encounters baddies, squeezing her breast to trigger the device. Of course, this is hilarious, and “Double Agent 73” needs a bit of humor to help combat the low-wattage nature of the production, which tries to establish a world of secret agents and threatening enforcers with a lunch money budget.

Wishman works out some ambitious ideas, including a car chase with undercranked cinematography, adding a little “French Connection” to a tale of a busty spy with a camera in her left breast. And there’s a bit more blood here, as violent encounters are periodic, selling the bodily harm as Jane deals with dangerous situations, while an assassin slaughters a friend in her shower, allowing Wishman to have her “Psycho” moment.

Double Agent 73 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

A 2K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, "Double Agent 73" delivers decent detail during the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Facial particulars are satisfactory, along with skin surfaces. Rooms are open for inspection, with textured decoration, and costuming is fibrous. Color is lively, with bright primaries and period hues on clothing. Greenery is distinct. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy but film-like. Some wear and tear is detected along the way, including rough reel changes, and technical limitations are present, dealing with focus and camera issues.

Double Agent 73 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA tracks offers decent emphasis with dialogue exchanges, hitting a few shrill high along the way. Scoring cues favor a jazzier, funkier mood, and instrumentation is acceptable. Sound effects are appreciable.

Double Agent 73 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Frank Henenlotter.

• And a Trailer (1:25, SD) is included.

Double Agent 73 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Double Agent 73" isn't consistently engaging, losing some snap in the final act, though the conclusion strives to build to a big moment. Wishman delivers what she can with the project, and there's some creative success her, developing the helmer's interest in action, and sharpening her focus on Morgan's distinct presence.