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UNDERCOVER AGENT SERIES

Page history last edited by Archer844 1 year, 8 months ago

Following the success of GIRLS OF THE BIG HOUSE (1945) with its tough action and noirish photography, it was only natural to explore this type of film further. The writing department (or more precisely Mila Kirova Van Witt using her "Mark Alexander" screen name) eventually came up with this series based on the exploits on a female Federal undercover operative, known only by her code letter "V" (Vee). There are rumors that KRISTEN BELMONT (Kristen Bell) was the intended star of the series (some was wondered if "Vee" were really a grown-up Veronica Marsden from the old CO-ED DETECTIVE series, but this has never been confirmed, though it does seem odd it took until 1947 to put the series into production.). However the assignment went to one of the "Class of 1945" newcomers: ALONA TALLANT, who proved extremely adept at the action requirements and grim, yet vulnerable intensity of the lead character.

 

 

ALONA TALLANT as "Agent Vee"

 

There were 6 films in the series beginning with UNDERCOVER AGENT (released in November 1947) and followed in March of 1948 by what many consider the best in the series, at least in terms of fight action: RING OF DARKNESS).  These were followed by THE SATIN SNARE (1948). DARK STREETS OF DECEIT(1948), THE VELVET WEB (1949) and the last in the series IN TOO DEEP (1949).

 

UNDERCOVER AGENT (1947)

 

Federal authorities are frustrated at their inability to penetrate a ruthless, but highly lucrative smuggling ring that is bringing in gold, jewels, and art work looted from Europe during World War II. They then bring in "Agent V" (Vee), a blonde woman who has been working on the edges of the underworld for several yeats. We `learn that she is trying to finish the work of her murdered fiance, an undercover agent exposed and murdered by gang of black marketeers late in the War. "She got the goods on that whole gang and sent the man who killed her fiance to Death Row, but she realized the rotteness out there and that someone had to do the dirty job of cutting it out." (All agents of the unit have letter code names "A, B, X"). Vee passes herself off as "Valerie Trent" the representative of a weathy American eager to add to his art collection by unsavory means. She meets the leaders of the ring a husband and wife who operate a supposed respectable import house and auction business. The woman, "Clarissa Hanson" (played by JERI-LYNN RYDER/Jeri Ryan). Vee soon realizes that Clarissa would like to get rid of her husband and take over the business alone. Vee has to deal with the suspicious younger half-sister of Clarissa., Gina played by SUMMER GRAYSON (Summer Glau), who is secretly in love with her sister's husband and becomes jealous when Vee plays up to the scoundrel. At one point, Gina attempts to kill Vee in a steam room, but ends up accidentally getting broiled in her own trap. Vee then leads Clarissa to think her husband did it and the husband to think Clarissa did it. Sure enough Clarissa kills her husband, but then tries to escape, but Vee intercepts the bigger woman and knocks her out. Facing a death sentence for murder, Clarissa then rats out the gang, though she never realizes Vee was a Federal agent and she slips away into the night. Her Federal handler is uneasy about Vee's methods, but she retorts these are evil people getting what they deserve. She disappears into a foggy darkened street until the next time they need her.

 

CAST:

Agenrt Vee/Valerie Trent: Alona Tallant (Alona Tal)

 

Clarissa Hanson: Jeri-Lynn Ryder (Jeri Ryan)

 

Gina Fletcher: Summer Grayson (Summer Glau)

 

RING OF DARKNESS (1948)

 

The second installement in the series finds Agent V using the alias of "Vixen Ventura" to infiltrate an off-shore "Small Glove Boxing" promotion which is being used as a cover to distribute narcotics. (The drugs are brought aboard a cruise  ship being used as the venue of the fights whenever it visits an unnamed Caribbean island, then when "special guests" are flown out to the boat as it cruises beyond the 12-mile limit, some of the guests are really "mules" who then carry the drugs toi the mainland.) Vee's job is to gain access to the papers of the leader of the gang "Mavis York" (played by an elehant, but tough ROSE MACDONALD/Rose McGowan, who took over the operation when rivals rubbed out her husband. , Vee accomplishes this with some safecracking skills and a mini cam,era to photograph t he papers so Mavis doesn't realize the jig is up until it is too late.

 

However, it must be admitted that the drug smuggling plot is secondary to the brutal, yet stylishly photographed fight scenes. It also memorable for the apperarance of young HAYDEN PARNELL (Hayden Panettiere) who plays the small, but amazingly ferocious  "Treena the Tigress' destruction of unsuspecting fight newbie  "Lily Li" ( JADE SONG/Brenda Song) is a shocking preliminary for an even more brutal battle between Treena and Vee.  (Although the picture is in black and white, her is enough dark liquid substances flying around in the fight to raise eyebrows).  A fight Mavis has tried to rig "because people like seeing Treena win." (Ms.Parnell delighted in playing against her "good girl" looks and has often said this was one her favorite D-A roles).

 

Mavis angerily summons Vee to her office to chew her out for beating up her prize fighter. Vee lets this turn into a fight during which she knocks Mavis out and thus gains access to her safe. Vee then coolly revives Mavis and agrees not to accept payment for the fight and leave. (Even so, Mavis sends a vengeful Treena to ambush Vee, but Vee again puts "The Tigress" down for the count thanks to some help from Marilyn who keeps Treena from using a gun on Vee.

 

Later, we learn through voice over narration and a quick montage that the information from the papers allpows the gang to be rounded up. Mavis goes to prison (where she is seen have to battle other females covicts--if you look quickly enough you'll see she is getting worked over by veteran TAYLOR COLT. who makes her directorial debut on this film).

As for Marilyn, she starts her own "Small Glove Boxing Promotion" using warehouses but drawing bigger crowds. We get a scene of the returned "Lily Li" beating the stuffins out of Treena the Tigress.

 

Vee herself is again shown walking off into the foggy, moist darkness of a big city awaiting her next call. 

 

Also in the cast was veteran MISSY PRESTON (Missy Peregrym)  as Mavis' fight supervisor "Marilyn", who gets to show her well-honed fighting style against newcomer CASSIE FREEMAN (Cassidy Freeman)  "Sandra."   

 

Taylor Colt had been an actress, stunt performer and stunt coordinator on many D-A films, many of them Westerns. It might be expected she would make her directorial debut on a Western, but she has been assistant director on the first UA film and jumped at the chance to do this one. She proved to have a much more stylish touch, but still kept the story and action moving briskly. Not surprising, she quickly assigned the next film in the series.

 

THE CAST:

 

Agent V/Vixen Ventura: Alona Tallant (Alona Tal)

 

 

Mavis York: Rose MacDonald (Rose McGowan)

 

 

Treena The Tigress: Hyaden Parnell (Hayden Panettiere)

 

Lily Li: Jade Song (Brenda  Song)

 

 

Marilyn: Miissy Preston (Missy Peregrym)

 

 

Sandra: Cassie Freeman (Cassidy Freeman)

 

 

Directed by: Taylor Colt (Taylor Cole) also appears uncredited as "Convict Fighter") 

 

 

THE VELVET WEB (1948)

 

The third installment of the series found Agent Vee attempting to penetrate a cruel gang of blackmailers who specialize in taking advantage of vulnerable young women--who have lost parents, husbands, fiancees, but soon find they have more to lose--their money and their dignity. It is the suicide of the young widow of a war hero that draws the attention of the Federal authorties to this gang which has avoided detection by constantly moving their operation from from city to another.

Taylor Colt was again the director showing a knack for hard-hitting, intense action mixed with excellent use of black and white lighting to enhance the camera work. (Taylor also has a cameo as a jailhouse guard)

 

Vee infiltrates the gang by getting herself sent to prison a con artist and put in a cell with "Sally Ryan" (SCARLETT JEWELL/Scarlett Johansson) who is serving a 30 day sentence for an unrelated bad check charge. Vee, as "Vivian Trent" befriends Sally and, sure enough, once they are released Sally brings her to meet "Janet Parker" (KRISTEN BELMONT/Kristen Bell) who is the "middle boss" of the blackmail gang. (Kristen was then trying to broaden her range, playing this ruthless, conscienceless criminal). Trying to find out the secret mastermind, Vee works with the gang as they try to ensnare "Laurie Allen" a girl (LAURA VANDERMERE/Laura Vandervoort) who's life has been turned upside down by an unexpected large insurance settlement following the death of her parents in a plane crash. "Befriended" by Sally, Laura is introduced to a handsome fellow who soon cons her into investing in his phony business. At this point, Vee is expecting the police to step in, but unexpectedly Laurie grows suspicious the scam and starts demanding her money back. Before Vee can do anything, Janet (on orders from the Mystery Boss),  Sally to kill Laurie which she does (shoving her off a cliff after a terrific struggle) before Vee can get the police to the scene. Afterwards, she attempts to locate Sally only to find Janet has killed her, too, to protect herself. Then Janet tries to shoot Vee, but the agent fights her off, then hangs her out of window until she reveals the identity of the Mystery Boss (Vee lets her thik she;s going to black mail the woman, who is actually  "Miriam Markham" the vice president of abig  insurance firm (JENNA CONNELLY, who is seen earlier in the picture telling Federal agents she has no idea how the blackmail gang could be getting their information) to access data on large payouts that she then passes on to Janet and her gang). Vee leaves Janet bound and gagged for the police to find while she makes her sport. Later we read in newspaper headlines how the cruel racket has been smashed and the murderous Janet who is getting a life sentence havign saved herself from death row by turning on the Mystery Boss.

 

THE CAST:

 

Agent Vee/Vivian Trent: ALONA TALLANT (Alone Tal)

 

Janet Parker: KRISTEN BELMONT (Kristen Bell)

 

 

Sally Ryan: SCARLETT JEWELL (Scarlett Johansson)

 

Laurie Allen: LAURA VANDERMERE (Laura Vandervoort)

 

Miriam Markham: JENNA CONNELLY (Jennifer Connelly)

 

Jail Guard (& Director): TAYLOR COLT (Taylor Cole)

 

 

ENTANGLED (1948)

 

The fourth installment in the series saw Agent Vee going undercover in a burlesque theatre that the Federal authorities believe is being used to laundry ill-gotten money for a national-wide gang. Vee's mission is to pose as "Velvet Skye" one of the performers and keep an eye on who is coming and going from the manager's office. She has managed to establish that regular visitors the office are, in fact, couriers bringing in cash to be turned into supposed ticket sales and deposited in overseas bank accounts. All of this proves to be the easy part for Vee, who finds her assignment threatened by backstage jealousies among the strippers--especially the haughty Australian "Hot Garters Gwenny" Craig (YVONNE STRATTON/Yvonne Strahovski) and her arch-rival "Golden Goldie" Shaye (SARAH CARSON/Sarah Carter), with "Yolanda the Dark Flame of Araby" (NADIA BJORLANT/Nadia Bjorlin) and "LACE LAFLEUR" (LACEY CALVERT/Lacey Chabert), seeking to build on her sexy new image begun in 1947's "THE FRENCH BIKINI MURDERS". ("To be honest, I was trying to show I could make movies without Jenni-Love Harris/Jennifer Love Hewitt. I did but even though I had a great time doing the movie, it was all so dramatic and intense, but I admit my favorite part was those stripper numbers, it just wasn't the same without Jenni-Love and I was soon back with her again for THE AMERICAN GIRLS (1948). TAYLOR COLT again handled the directing chores with skill mixing in moody lighting with more garish for the stage numbers (of which there are quite a few making it especially popular among fans eager to see their favorite actresses in as little as the Film Censors would allow.

 

In addition to the familiar D-A faces, the film offered the intriguing presentation of several talented young performers: ERIKA CIERRA (Erica Cera) as "Detective Moreno", EMILY ROSELYN (Emily Rose) as  "Detective Rose"" and CLAUDIA ALLISON (Allison Scagliotti) as  Nora "Numbers" Norrell', the theatre's bookkeeper).

 

The film opens with Vee in an office being briefed by her FBI contact on she is to infiltrate the Royale Burlesque Theatre to identify who is bringing in money to be laundered as ticket receipts and where is going after. Vee is soon hard at work on stage (from the briefing we learn Vee has used her "Velvet Skye"  stripper identity in the past).. However while she soon targets the theater's eccentric bookkeeper "Numbers" Norerell (CLAUDIA ALLISON/Allison Scagliotti) as the one received the ill-gotten gains, she isn't sure where the funds are going, so she has to maintain surveillence. Her task is complicated by the raging feud between "Hot Garters Gwenny (YVONNE STRATTON/Yvonne Strahovski) and "Golden Goldie: (SARAH CARSON/Sarah Carter). not to mention the hostility of the exotic "Yolanda" (NADIA BJORLANT/Nadia Bjorlin)  and "Lace LaFleur" (LACEY CALVERT/Lacey Chabert).  Not surprisingly murder strikes backstage as Gwenny is found in her dressing room shot through a pillow (to muffle the shot)--a pillow that came from Vee's dressing room.

 

Enter the police, led by the only two female detectives in the city "Det. Morena" (ERIKA CIERRA/Erica Cera) and "Det, Rose" (EMILY ROSELYN/Emily  Rose). who are soon giving each of the girlstough questioning. Vee is especially warty of Det. Rose because she has found her name in a coded notebook Numbers is keeping and thinks she could be a crooked cop. Thanks to the pillow, Vee is the star suspect, even though she proves she was on stage at the time Gwenny was shot. Things are not looking good for Vee, who is desperate to complete her assignment and cripple the syndicate's financial arm.

 

Vee suspects that "Numbers" could be the real killer and that Gwenny had been trying to blackmail her. She suspects Gwenny stole a code book that would translate the records. Vee let's Numbers thinks she has the code book and sure enough, she is attacked and nearly strangled with a g-string, but is able to fight the girl off, then delivers her to the annoyed Det. Rose. Vee announces she's quitting and a scramble sets in for her old dressing room. In the confusion, Vee not only gets away with the code book, but the secret ledger and gives them to her Federal contact. She also suggest making a deal with Numbers to testify against the group. The agent thanks her and says this could be the most damaging blow yet against the syndicate that murdered Vee's fiancee. "I know," she says, "but I need to get to the roots."  The Federal agent nods: "We're working on it, but be careful you don't get in so deep we can't get you out. That almost happened this time." Vee shrugs: "But it didn't and it won't. I'm seeing this to the end of the line."

 

Vee the starts to disappear into the night (her signature exit), but this time, out of the nearby shadows steps Det Rose and watches her go. Her expression leaves the viewer wandering just what the female detective knows and if Vee has seen the last of her...

 

The film is an interesting installment in the series with fewer fights (though the climactic battle between Vee and Numbers is very well-done and the brawl for "Velvet's" dressing room is actually a welcome bit of comic relief in a series not known for it. There is a knockdown dragout battle between Yvonne Stratton as "Gwenny" and Sarah Carter as "Goldie" Sarah loses (and gives her a motive for wanting to kill Gwen). There is a shorter batlte between Gwen and Vee, that Vee end with a nice elbow in the solar plexus followed by a jawbreaker that leaves the bigger blonde sprawled on her back. (Gwen is trying to keep from being fired when she blackmails Numbers after having stolen her code book). Lacey Calvert, a veteran of many D-A film brawls says: "I really liked this one, Taylor knew how to knit individual bits of fighting business into a flowing, dynamic whole. My contribution was swing around a pole to hit Nadia Bjorlin with both feet square in the chest sending her flying. I think the wrestlers call it a '630'. Sometimes they attach wires to get a good backwards jump, but Nadia did that one herself. It was a little tricky because she has to hit the two detectives with her back, so she's going into them blind, but she nailed it (and them) the first time." The stripper routines also provide an interesting lift to the darkness of the storyline and have made it especially popular with those non-noire D-A fans who find the overall series too downbeat for their taste. ("Oh, yes, we were all very competitive trying to do the best burlesque number. Next to the brawl, that's my favorite memory of the shooting," Lacey Calvert adds.)

 

THE CAST:

 

 

TROPIC OF EVIL (1949)

 

The fifth film in the UNDERCOVER AGENT series takes Agent Vee to tropical island where the "Banco del Sol" operates as a service to tourists and shippers. She works as Valerie Vaughn, an Assistant Manager in the Foreign Operations Department apparently spending her time assisting tourists and the occasional businessman. For all the green jungle and white beaches, there is a sinister air about the place. In fact, Isla del Sol is a crossroads of legal and illegal and the bank is smack in the middle of it, which is why Vee has been sent in. The syndicate is using the bank as a front to move money in and out of the country. The Federal investigators want Vee to photograph the bank's records which are, of course, kept under strictest security.

 

Vee shrewdly spots a series of conflicts within the bank's management. The bank's owner Rodrigo Mortain is ailing and more and more authority is going to Vice President Clive Revelle, who is married to Rodrigo's smoldering daughter Isabelle (CAMILLA BELLAMY./Camilla Belle). Isabelle is suspicious (with good reason, Vee soon determines) of Clive's secretary Charlotte Richter (BELINDA PIPER/Billie PIpert) Isabelle also resents that her father has never allowed her to take an active management in the bank. Isabelle has been trying to use Clive to run the bank, but he clearly dislikes being used by her. Vee makes it a point to befriend the frustrated Isabelle and it turns out it was her idea to improe the bank's finance's by dealing with the American syndicate. (Something she is quite proud of and is increasingly angry neither Clive or her father will recognize her contribution). Vee helpfully suggests to Isabelle if she were to get a look at those records she might be able to come up with a way to making her husband and father appreciate her more. Isabell confides she has one key to the special vault, but the other two are held by Rodrigo and Clive. Vee then helps Isabelle to get access to the keys to make copies, she doesn't tell Isabelle she's making another set for herself.

 

Meanwhile, Clive and Charlotte have decided they don't need Rodrigo and Isabelle anymore and decide to get rid of them both. Their idea is to poison Rodrigo and then have Isabelle die in a swimming accident. Vee stumbles onto this plan and decides she can make good use of it. Vee tips off Rodrigo and Isabella of the plot against them, which creates enough distraction for her to gain easy access to the special vault. In the meantime, Rodrigo switches drinks with Clive so that he is the one who gets poisoned, while Isabella lured Charlotte to a beach where she attempts to drown Charlotte. As they struggle Isabella tells Charlotte that her father is about to dispose of Clive. Charlotte manages to fight off Isabelle and knocks her into the sea. (They are fighting incidentally in one piece bathing suits).

 

Charlotte rushes back to the house hoping to save Clive, but finds she is too late. Furious, she gets a gun and kills Rodrigo in revenge. It then occurs to her she better get off the island and decides to loot the bank's cash supply. She takes the 3 keys (having taken Isabella's purse with her and recovered the other 2 from Clive and Rodrigo's bodies.) and heads for the bank. Imagine her surprise to find Vee industriously photographing the special account books. It looks like curtains for Vee, until Isbella turns up wet, but alive in time to kill Charlotte. She then realizes Vee set her up, but by now Vee has a gun of her own and kills Isabella in self-defense.).

 

Vee then calmly locks the special safe, hides her duplicate keys and calls in the police. It all looks to them like a bizarre love triangle gone wrong and Vee flies away after turning her evidence over to her Federal contact. The contact she taken aback at Vee's dubious role in these events,. Vee coolly replies that they were consumed by their own evil, "I just took advantage of it and now you have your evidence." The contact worries what her undercover life is doing to her sense of right and wrong." She replies: "I'm doing what I have to do to bring down this monster of an organization."  Her contact worries Vee is becoming "as twisted as the people we're investigating". Vee only smiles grimly: "Then let's hope I finish this before that happens." She then turns and disappears into the tropical darkness.

 

The series continues to take Vee deeper into moral darkness, surrounded by corruption and evil. Will she succumb? The story features BELINDA PIPER as "Charlotte Richter" and CAMILLA BELLAMY as "Isabelle Mortain Revelle", roles a far cry from their normal type (which is undoubtedly why they wanted the roles). Once again TAYLOR COLT directed.

 

THE CAST:

 

ALONA TALLANT (Alona Tal) as "Valerie Vaughn"/Agent Vee

CAMILLA BELLAMY (Camilla Belle) as "Isabelle Mortain Richter"

BELINDA PIPER (Billie Piper) as "Charlotte Richter"

 

 

 

 

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