Kill or Be Killed (1976)

Kill or Be Killed: Directed by Ivan Hall. With James Ryan, Charlotte Michelle, Norman Coombes, Danie Du Plessis. Two former ranking figures of the Axis powers schedule a deadly martial arts tournament in an isolated locale. The two rivals then race to assemble the top competitors from around the world, with Steve Hunt being the most sought after fighter.

“I was expecting another Kill And Kill Again. What I got was a slower and much less punchy vehicle. At times, there seems to be hardly any activity at all. The story too, goes off the beaten track a little like when Ryan and his love take off through the desert on their wind sailor, singing jubilantly, eating up too much screen time. The opening music theme, which I absolutely loved, and itu0026#39;s locale scene, a long exterior shot of a big fortress in the desert, as I frankly recall, is the first thing that clicks in my mind when I think about Kill Or Be Killed. With this film I was short changed afraid. Thereu0026#39;s much less action where youu0026#39;re kept waiting, especially from the start, where it came between long intervals. A slightly younger looking Ryan, with shorter, neater hair, who was in fact only 18 when he made this, plays another Steve character, whou0026#39;s drawn back into a fight in another big arena, where participants fight with weapons of choice. Ryan, a Chard Hayward sounding actor, does have a certain charisma, but not good acting status, where heu0026#39;s surrounded by a few antic characters, that midget guy a hoot. These characters at least add something to this disappointing actioner. After seeing Ryanu0026#39;s other flick, this had me on quite a come down, it had me moping. If youu0026#39;ve seen this, and wasnu0026#39;t satisfied, and youu0026#39;ve havenu0026#39;t seen the other kill movie, itu0026#39;s vitally imperative you do, as it may just bring your spirits up, for this u0026#39;Kill is so over ridden by, itu0026#39;s follow up.”