The Doll Squad
From The Deuce
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Also Known As
- Das Kommando der Frauen (Germany)
- Female Mercenaries (USA)
- Killer Girls
- Seduce And Destroy (USA)
Taglines
- They're Beautiful, They're Dangerous, They're Deadly!
- 'Charlie's Angels' Never Looked This Good!
- A diabolical maniac threatens mass destruction! An elite band of sexy assassins... our only hope!
- An elite army of female assassins...in a race against time and death to save the world from a hideously diabolical mass destruction at the hands of a madman no one had ever seen!
- Before 'Charlie's Angels' there was... The Doll Squad. Eat your heart out 'Charlie!'
Main Details
- Released in 1973
- Color
- Aspect Ratio: (1.85:1)
- Runtime: 88 min (uncut PAL)
- Rated: R
- Production Co: Feature-Faire Productions
- Distributed by Geneni Film Distributors (1973) (USA) (theatrical), Ambassador Film Distributors (1974) (Canada) (theatrical)
Cast and Crew
- Directed by Ted V. Mikels
- Written by Pam Eddy, Ted V. Mikels, Jack Richesin
- Starring: Michael Ansara, Tura Satana, Francine York, Anthony Eisley, John Carter, Rafael Campos, William Bagdad, Lillian Garrett, Lisa Todd, Gustaf Unger, Bertil Unger, Curt Matson, Herb Robins, Dru Landers, Jean London, Leigh Christian
- Produced by Paul Burkett, Ted V. Mikels
- Original Music by Nicholas Carras
- Cinematography by Anthony Salinas
- Film Editing by Ted V. Mikels
Film Review
DOLL SQUAD is one of Ted V. Mikels' best films -- a low budget drive-in movie that's goofy, creative, fast paced, usually interesting, and a lot of fun. It plays like a cheap James Bond knock-off-complete with a ruthless villain intent on ruling the world. Yes, it's the movie that is said to be the inspiration for Aaron Spelling's CHARLIE'S ANGELS. In case you've believed any of the rumors, let's set the record straight.
Tura (Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!) Satana invited Aaron Spelling to a screening of Mikels' DOLL SQUAD. A couple of years later Spelling created a television series named Charlie's Angels that had a few things in common with the movie and even a lead character named Sabrina. Mikels never claimed he was ripped off, nor did he ever sue Spelling, and Spelling never paid Mikels any money. Mikels has seen many of his ideas 'borrowed' and turned into something else many times over the course of his long career. Spelling probably was inspired by DOLL SQUAD, but CHARLIE'S ANGELS isn't a direct rip-off. It would have been nice if Spelling gave Mikels some credit or money, but that's not the way things happen in Hollyweird. Mikels made almost nothing on DOLL SQUAD, even though it played Drive-Ins for several years. He lost a lucrative distribution deal when he had to pre-sell the foreign rights to raise enough money to finish the movie.
Mikels is probably best known for: ASTRO-ZOMBIES and THE CORPSE GRINDERS --both are considered Grade Z movies. Ted's directed 22 full length movies (he recently completed his 22nd:THE CAULDRON OF BLOOD) and shot, edited, or produced more than a dozen others. He's utterly obsessed with making movies and continues to make them for under $40,000. He earns money making industrial videos, commercials, trade show presentations, audition tapes and conducting seminars on filmmaking out of his Las Vegas studio near his home. DOLL SQUAD, released in 1973 was one of his most expensive productions costing approximately $256,000 to complete. The CORPSE GRINDERS, one of his lowest budgeted movies cost around $18,000 to make (not a typo, that's really $18,000).
DOLL SQUAD luxuriates in 70s tackiness in just about every way you can imagine: shag carpeting, big haired women with large eyelashes, polyester outfits and dialogue peppered with the slang and vernacular of the time. It's aged better than platforms, hot rocks, mood rings and disco combined!!!
An insane villain has blown up an experimental space flight and delivered a message to a famous Senator (John Carter) via closed circuit television. A C.I.A. type director (Anthony Eisley) consults with a super computer nicknamed BERTHA who advises that the best hope the U.S. has is THE DOLL SQUAD. That brings big red haired, busty , long legged Sabrina (Francine York) onto the scene. She needs to quickly recruit super agents with various specialties to begin the mission and make the world safe once again. The assembled team features several of Mikels' Castle ladies and tough gal/stripper Tura (FASTER PUSSYCAT KILL KILL and ASTRO-ZOMBIES) Satana as Lavella Sumara munitions expert. Other DOLL SQUAD babes included: Jean London, Sherri Vernon, Leigh Christian, Bret Zeller, Carol Terry and Judy McConnell.
In very little time they realize the arch villain is none other than former spy and ex-fiance of Sabrina, Eamon O'Riley (Michael Ansara). He lives in what looks like a fancy, tacky Palm Springs house that is on a heavily guarded island off the coast of Venezuela. His right hand man is none other than my favorite Mikel's supporting sleaze-ball William Bagdad. Herb Robbins also shows up as Munson the hired hit man.
Sit back and enjoy the ride as we learn about secret agents with implants in their necks, vodka that makes anyone who drinks it explode, and the mad plot to send rats infested with bubonic plague to various areas of the world.
We also get a very odd looking Kaleidoscope editing wipe, some superimposed explosions, barely competent martial arts action, over the top gun battles and girls in bikinis. There's very little gore, no nudity (though we do see Tura in her pasties) and some foul language.
Does it make much sense? Well there's a wild 11-year-old boy playing with his army men kind of logic to it, but no of course it doesn't make much sense. What you get is a very silly, very fun, very cheap sort of P.G. rated drive-in movie. The dialogue is ridiculous, and the acting varies widely. You'll either consider it a tacky mess or have a great time. Enjoy it.
Michael Ansara became famous as Cochise in the Broken Arrow t.v. series (originally made between 1956 to 1960) and he later married Barbara (I Dream of Jeannie) Eden. He still works regularly on television, in movies and doing voice-overs (like the voice of Mr. Freeze in the animated Batman movie).
DOLL SQUAD's concept was obviously a marketable one and the goofy ideas and concepts Mikels injects into the proceedings are all a lot of fun. It's a time capsule movie of some of the 70s tackiest fashions and trends. Expect one of the most wholesome 'women with guns' sub-genre films you'll ever see that plays like a long t.v show pilot with a touch more sleaze and foul language than usual. It's the kind of mindless drive-in movie fare I crave to watch on a hot summer night. Maybe you do also.
Reviewed by Count Graf Orlock - 6/27/07
Referenced in
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) - The look of The Doll Squad influenced the look of the DIVAS.
