Niente Rose Per OSS 117 (aka OSS 117 Double Agent) (1968)

When a series of political assassinations occur, a secret agent (John Gavin) known as OSS 117 has plastic surgery and goes undercover as a notorious hit man. He is hired by the head (Curt Jurgens) of an assassination organization to kill a United Nations peacemaker (Piero Lulli). Based on the novel PAS DE ROSES POUR OSS 117 by Jean Bruce, this was the last of the five OSS 117 movies done in the 1960s between 1963 and 1968. Directed by Andre Hunebelle with assistance from Jean Pierre Desagnat and Renzo Cerrato, this entry tries to inject more humor into the screenplay but unfortunately John Gavin doesn't seem to have a comic bone in his body. The outlandish plot needed more style and panache to succeed but it was clear that the franchise was running out of steam. The film was only a modest success at the French box office (it was not released in the U.S.). Outside of Gavin, Jurgens makes for an elegant villain (sort of a test run for his Bond villain in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME) and Bond bad girl Luciana Paluzzi (THUNDERBALL) is wasted but is as sexy as ever. With Robert Hossein and Margaret Lee.