The Hell With Heroes (1968)

Set in North Africa in 1946, a former U.S. Air Force Pilot (Rod Taylor) and his co-pilot buddy (Peter Duel) are forced to work with a ruthless international smuggler (Harry Guardino) to get enough money to return to civilian life. Complications ensue when the pilot falls in love with the smuggler's mistress (Claudia Cardinale). Directed by Joseph Sargent (TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE), this romantic action movie harks back to the films of the 1940s and if this was filmed in 1946 at Warners, I could see Michael Curtiz directing Humphrey Bogart, Michele Morgan and Zachary Scott in the Taylor, Cardinale and Guardino roles. Perhaps the movie was too old fashioned (in spite of added sex and mild violence) for 1968 critics and audiences as the movie found no favor with either. I've always been a fan of Rod Taylor, who has a nice masculine presence but the lovely Claudia Cardinale is used for eye candy and little else. With the exception of THE PINK PANTHER and maybe THE PROFESSIONALS, Hollywood didn't do well by Miss Cardinale. I don't know as I could recommend it but I enjoyed well enough. Though the movie takes place in North Africa and France, it was filmed on the Universal backlot. With Kevin McCarthy, William Marshall and Mae Mercer.