Jaguar Lives! (1979)

Director:

Ernest Pintoff

Writer:

Yabo Yablonsky (written by)

Release Date:

November 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

These treacherous times demand a new style of hero. NOW IS THE TIME FOR JAGUAR [Video Australia]

Plot:

A world's new kung-fu hero (Joe Lewis) is out to stop drug dealers, gangs and help save the world from an evil con (Christopher Lee). |

Plot Keywords:

Hero | James Bond Spoof | Action Hero | Bond Girl | James Bond Imitation

Cast

Joe Lewis	...	Jonathan Cross (Jaguar)
Christopher Lee	...	Adam Caine
Donald Pleasence	...	General Villanova
Barbara Bach	...	Anna Thompson
Capucine	...	Zina Vanacore
Joseph Wiseman	...	Ben Ashir
Woody Strode	...	Sensei
John Huston	...	Ralph Richards
Gabriel Melgar	...	Ahmed
Anthony De Longis	...	Bret Barrett
Sally Faulkner	...	Terry
Gail Grainger	...	Consuela
Anthony Heaton	...	Coblintz
Luis Prendes	...	Habish
Simón Andreu	...	Petrie

Also Known As:

Felino, El (Spain)

Runtime:

UK:88 min | USA:90 min

Country:

USA | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Finland:(Banned) | USA:PG | Norway:18 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Belmonte, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Company:

Jaguar Productions

Quotes:

Terry: You're like a fine wine, Jonathan, better with every taste.
Jonathan Cross: You always did have smooth lines, Terry.

Movie Connections:

Edited into 42nd Street Forever, Volume 3: Exploitation Explosion (2008) (V)

Entertaining albeit a bit too talky....

Legendary heavyweight kickboxing champion Joe Lewis kicks off his mysteriously brief movie career with this globe trotting martial arts actioner in which he assumes the eponymous role of The Jaguar, a sort of James Bond type agent sans the gadgets (other than his lethal fists and feet)

The first thing that becomes immediately apparent whilst watching, is that a large amount of money was put into this judging by the multiple foreign locations and some of the incredible cast that has been assembled here. Such cinematic luminaries as John Huston, Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasance and Woody Strode all put in appearances! (albeit briefly) Also along for the ride is the familiar and welcome face of Anthony De Longis as Jaguar's friend and fellow agent.

All well and good so far then.....however it has to be said that for what is ostensibly an action movie, there is in fact far too little action on offer here. The majority of the films running time is taken with our hero jet setting from one beautiful location to another searching for clues as to the identity of an international drug dealer who in a somewhat lame and predictable twist at the end is revealed to be.....well I won't say it here.

Still, despite the above criticism the action sequences when they do arrive, turn out to be very exciting indeed. The final climatic fight especially, set atop the scenic splendour of an old castle, between Jaguar and his nemesis is very exciting and well handled.

It's rather sad that other than a tiny handful of other films, Lewis never further pursued his movie career. From the evidence here, although obviously not trained as an actor he nonetheless possessed a rather powerful on screen presence in much the same manner as the likes of the late great Charles Bronson.

Overall then, the film is certainly worth a watch for fans of martial arts, not least of all to see a genuine kickboxing legend in action, although it has to be said that it could have been so much better with less of the excessive talking and a bit more of the said action.