Yvette Mimieux looks gorgeous and gives a fine, understated performance as a contract killer who methodically seduces her targets, waits until they have let their guard down, and then strikes - lethally. But problems arise when she decides that she wants to quit the business. What I particularly liked about Yvette's performance here is that she presents the character and lets the viewer decide how he or she should feel about her. She doesn't force-feed you the answers, and neither does the movie. It proceeds economically from scene to scene, telling a seemingly simple story, but the unexpected twist at the end of it has real impact. Be warned: it's not an action movie (though there is one car chase), it's more of a character drama. (**1/2)
8 Reviews
Lovely and MAJOR lethal
blanche-28 July 2005
Very entertaining film from the '70s, produced by Aaron Spelling and written by Yvette Mimieux, who stars in it, looks gorgeous (it is, after all, Aaron Spelling), and surrounds herself with men, particularly Dack Rambo.
Mimieux plays a woman in a man's job - she's a hit woman. Though very successful knocking people off, she gets tired of it and, in love with Rambo, wants to retire from the business and live with him in Mexico. Her costars, besides Rambo, are Clu Gulager, Joseph Campanella, Keenan Wynn - basically all men.
There's one very fun scene at the airport when Mimieux, attempting to disguise herself, offers a woman (Mitzi Hoag) outrageous money for her coat. I would have handed it over too.
Obviously a very brainy woman in real life, Mimieux does this cold, impersonal kind of role very well, and she's a real knockout in this (as usual). The film contains a very neat twist as well. Highly recommended.
Mimieux plays a woman in a man's job - she's a hit woman. Though very successful knocking people off, she gets tired of it and, in love with Rambo, wants to retire from the business and live with him in Mexico. Her costars, besides Rambo, are Clu Gulager, Joseph Campanella, Keenan Wynn - basically all men.
There's one very fun scene at the airport when Mimieux, attempting to disguise herself, offers a woman (Mitzi Hoag) outrageous money for her coat. I would have handed it over too.
Obviously a very brainy woman in real life, Mimieux does this cold, impersonal kind of role very well, and she's a real knockout in this (as usual). The film contains a very neat twist as well. Highly recommended.
A Fairly Good Crime-Drama
Uriah4327 April 2013
"Angela de Vries" (Yvette Mimieux) is a beautiful assassin who has just fulfilled a 3-hit contract and wants to retire. However, the organization she works for insists on one more assignment and since she doesn't appear to have many options she reluctantly agrees. Her new target is a union leader by the name of "Jeffrey Baine" and he just happens to be well-guarded. So this project presents itself as both risky and dangerous. Not only that, but she is also instructed that the hit must look like an accident which further increases the difficulty. Anyway, although this is a "made-for-television" movie it boasts a good storyline and a decent supporting cast. But the most important ingredient is Yvette Mimieux who looks absolutely gorgeous and performs rather nicely as well. So, if a person is interested in a fairly good crime-drama movie then this is one film worth consideration. All things considered then, I rate it as slightly above average.
Yvette on parade!
Poseidon-34 March 2002
Yvette got out her yellow legal pad and #2 pencil and scripted herself a juicy part in this Aaron Spelling-produced TV flick. She plays an attractive blonde, shanghai-ed into killing people for money. She wrote herself into virtually every scene and put herself into an area usually reserved for men....especially at this time of 1974. This film pre-dates "Charlie's Angels", but has a similar sort of angle. Mimieux goes "undercover" in designer duds and works over her targets with charm and sex appeal (she even struts around at length in a skimpy bikini...revealing a very fit figure.) The film is simple and trite at times, but still modestly entertaining. Joseph Campenella is given the (thankfully!) rare chance to engage in a sex scene, Keenan Wynn has just a cameo and Clu Gulager is sporting a few too many shades in his hair color....strange. The best part is hot-to-trot Dack Rambo in his PRIME. He slinks in in jeans that look like they couldn't contain one more skin cell, gets caressed from behind while his jeans are half open (revealing dischordantly cute and chaste little white briefs) and just basically looks edible in a role that would normally have been "the girlfriend part". His yummy face and thick, beautiful hair threaten to steal the film from Ms. Mimieux, but since she wrote it, he isn't around all that long.
She's pretty, she's cute, she's charming....and she kills!
planktonrules14 March 2017
Yvette Mimieux is a very unlikely lady to play the lead in "Hit Lady". After all, she's rather petite, cute and looks very innocent and anything but dangerous. However, she's a cold-blooded contract killer...and a very good one at that! Plus, Mimieux wrote the script with herself in mind!!
The story begins with Angela (Mimieux) going to a barbecue and singling out an old man (Keenan Wynn) and talking with him at length. He invites her to go on a horseback ride...and she kills him when there are no witnesses about them. Next, she receives a call from her contact...he has one more contract. But she initially refuses, she's just retired. But the amount she is to be paid is astronomical...and this would really help her with her new life with her struggling boyfriend (Dack Rambo). So she has a condition...she wants to know more about the guy before he accepts. The mark is a union leader, Jeffrey Blaine (Joseph Campanella) and they really want him dead very badly! So yo see Angela as she goes to work and arranges to 'accidentally' meet Jeffrey at a concert. And, over time, she really comes to like this guy...so what's she to do?!
The film is enjoyable and worth seeing. Mimieux created a nice script. My only reservation was the ending...I did see that coming and many others will as well.
The story begins with Angela (Mimieux) going to a barbecue and singling out an old man (Keenan Wynn) and talking with him at length. He invites her to go on a horseback ride...and she kills him when there are no witnesses about them. Next, she receives a call from her contact...he has one more contract. But she initially refuses, she's just retired. But the amount she is to be paid is astronomical...and this would really help her with her new life with her struggling boyfriend (Dack Rambo). So she has a condition...she wants to know more about the guy before he accepts. The mark is a union leader, Jeffrey Blaine (Joseph Campanella) and they really want him dead very badly! So yo see Angela as she goes to work and arranges to 'accidentally' meet Jeffrey at a concert. And, over time, she really comes to like this guy...so what's she to do?!
The film is enjoyable and worth seeing. Mimieux created a nice script. My only reservation was the ending...I did see that coming and many others will as well.
Too predictable
bensonmum224 August 2019
The Quick Pitch: A female killer-for-hire wants out of the business after one last hit. But will those in power let her walk away?
It looks like I disagree with all of the other user comments on IMDb. The idea of a female hit-man was most likely a novel one in 1974, but ultimately, HIt Lady is just too predictable for me to really enjoy. The twist ending was telegraphed far in advance. I kept hoping for one last plot turn, but alas, it never came. I'll give Yvette Mimieux credit - she gives it her all. But she let herself down as an actor with the script she wrote. Tracy Keenan Wynn's direction adds nothing and it's easy to see why this is his only directing credit. Finally, the film's repetitive score is more annoying than anything else. Other than Mimieux, the lone highlight for me was Joseph Campanella in a supporting role. As for the rest of the acting, the less said the better.
4/10
It looks like I disagree with all of the other user comments on IMDb. The idea of a female hit-man was most likely a novel one in 1974, but ultimately, HIt Lady is just too predictable for me to really enjoy. The twist ending was telegraphed far in advance. I kept hoping for one last plot turn, but alas, it never came. I'll give Yvette Mimieux credit - she gives it her all. But she let herself down as an actor with the script she wrote. Tracy Keenan Wynn's direction adds nothing and it's easy to see why this is his only directing credit. Finally, the film's repetitive score is more annoying than anything else. Other than Mimieux, the lone highlight for me was Joseph Campanella in a supporting role. As for the rest of the acting, the less said the better.
4/10
Cool 70's TV movie
Woodyanders6 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Artist Angela de Vries (well played by the stunning Yvette Mimieux, who also wrote the succinct script) works as a mob assassin on the side. Complications ensure when Angela starts having second thoughts about what she does for a living.
Capably directed by Tracy Keenan Wynn, with an absorbing story that unfolds at a steady pace, a somber tone, an exciting car chase that's staged with skill and flair, and a real zinger of a surprise downbeat ending, this vintage 70's Aaron Spelling TV production makes for an enjoyable watch. The sound acting by the sturdy cast helps a lot: Joseph Campanella as amiable tycoon Jeffrey Baine, Clu Gulager as pushy and smarmy jerk contractor Roarke, Dack Rambo as dashing hunk boyfriend Doug Reynolds, Keenan Wynn as hearty rancher Buddy McCormack, Roy Jenson as tough bodyguard Eddie, and Paul Genge as the hard-nosed Webb. Better still, the lovely Mrs. Mimieux looks like a million bucks in fancy designer threads and even shows off a very impressive right'n'tight slender figure while parading about in a bikini. An entertaining teleflick.
Capably directed by Tracy Keenan Wynn, with an absorbing story that unfolds at a steady pace, a somber tone, an exciting car chase that's staged with skill and flair, and a real zinger of a surprise downbeat ending, this vintage 70's Aaron Spelling TV production makes for an enjoyable watch. The sound acting by the sturdy cast helps a lot: Joseph Campanella as amiable tycoon Jeffrey Baine, Clu Gulager as pushy and smarmy jerk contractor Roarke, Dack Rambo as dashing hunk boyfriend Doug Reynolds, Keenan Wynn as hearty rancher Buddy McCormack, Roy Jenson as tough bodyguard Eddie, and Paul Genge as the hard-nosed Webb. Better still, the lovely Mrs. Mimieux looks like a million bucks in fancy designer threads and even shows off a very impressive right'n'tight slender figure while parading about in a bikini. An entertaining teleflick.
Fun TV Flick with Gorgeous Yvette!
Hoohawnaynay11 August 2003
Apparently Yvette is as smart as she is beautiful. She wrote this "Movie of the Week" about a female contract killer. Actually quite entertaining, has cameos by a lot of talented people including Keenan Wynn, Joseph Campenella. Yvette kills 'em with class but when she wants to quit the business the heat's on. Yvette should have been given her own action TV series. Unfortunately most of the women kicking butt in the 70's were black (Pam Grier, Tamara Dobson, Teresa Graves) the only other movie I can remember where a white woman does this is possibly Connie Stevens in "Scorchy". I guess I just like to see women beating up men PERIOD! Catch this if you can, I think it was on video in the 80's it should be on DVD as many of these 70's TV movies were lots of fun.
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