Jaguar Lives!
Jaguar Lives! is a 1979 American action film directed by Ernest Pintoff and starring Joe Lewis, Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasence and Barbara Bach.[2] Its plot follows a secret agent who battles an international drugs ring.
Jaguar Lives! | |
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Directed by | Ernest Pintoff |
Produced by | Derek Gibson[1] |
Screenplay by | Yabo Yablonsky[1] |
Starring | |
Music by | Robert O. Ragland[1] |
Cinematography | John Cabrera[1] |
Edited by | Angelo Ross[1] |
Production company | Jaguar Productions, Ltd.[1] |
Distributed by | American International Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes[1] |
Country | United States[1] |
Language | English |
Cast
Despite receiving top billing in the credits, stars such as Christopher Lee, Barbara Bach and Donald Pleasence barely feature in the narrative.
- 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
Production
Jaguar Lives! was the feature film debut of karate and kickboxing champion Joe Lewis and was planned as being the first in a series of action films featuring Lewis as special agent “Jonathan Cross.”[1] Filming began on June 26, 1978 in Madrid, Spain.[1] The film was scheduled for six weeks in Spain and four weeks in other countries, including Japan, Germany, Turkey, Italy, and Hong Kong.[1]
Release
Jaguar Lives! opened in Los Angeles on August 31, 1979.[1]
Reception
From contemporary reviews, Paul Taylor of The Monthly Film Bulletin declared that the film would have been more attractive nine years ago and that "there are a few signs of Pintoff's quirky humour, but overall the film registers as a tacky chore."[3] Taylor noted that “only Donald Pleasence rises to the bait of his over-the-top bit-part villain."[3]
References
- "Jaguar Lives!". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- "Jaguar A Vehicle For Karate ". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- Taylor, Paul (February 1980). "Jaguar Lives". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 47 no. 553. British Film Institute. pp. 23–24.