Movie: (1966) A report of drugged chewing gum in Michigan sends a suave super agent to Amsterdam to investigate a sinister crime organization.
First shown: 8/7/93
Opening: Crow and Tom build a robot, who soon becomes annoying
Invention exchange: Frank demonstrates virtual comedy until Dr. F. programs in a few hecklers, J&tB demonstrate micro-golf
Host segment 1: Joel, Crow and Tom are a jazz trio playing the “Secret Agent Super Dragon” theme
Host segment 2: J&tB read through Crow’s latest screenplay: “The Spy Who Hugged Me”
Host segment 3: J&tB discuss spy movie post-kill puns
End: Dr. F.’s holds a super-villain conference call
Stinger: Jumping the Super Dragon, with xylophone accompaniment
(150 votes, average: 4.19 out of 5)
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• I don’t watch this one often, but when I do, it always surprises me all over again. It’s really a solid episode. The host segments are clever and the riffing is very good. My biggest gripe is the awful awful condition of the print.
• This episode is on Rhino’s “Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. 12.”
• References.
• Minsky the robot is an actual vintage toy, and that is what it really says. BBI named him Minsky in honor of artificial intelligence guru Marvin Minksy.
• Tom invokes “WKRP in Cincinnati” with the mention of “Chy-chy Rodragweez.”
• Callbacks: “I killed that fat barkeep.” (The Beatniks) Also: “Any talent to declare?” (Warrior of the Lost World), a mention of Ward E (Stranded in Space), “…but there was no monster” (Monster A-Go-Go).
• Joel wears his glasses in segment 2, which tells me he’s actually reading his lines off that script.
• Then current: “Herb from Burger King.” Also: “I ate the last Frusen Gladje.”
• Naughty riff: “We’ll be covering you from behind.” Crow: “You’ve been in prison too long.”
• Plot question–why did the bad guys choose a college town in Michigan to test their drug, when it’s fairly clear all their operations are in Europe? I don’t think the movie ever says.
• Frank is great in the ending segment, humming: ” …I sing whenever I sing…” and doing the exact minimum required to assist Dr. F. “Eagerly.”
• A very small cast and crew roundup: Set designer Arrigo Equini also worked on “Danger! Death Ray.” In front of the camera, Marisa Mell was also in “Danger: Diabolik,” Carlo D’angelo was also in “Hercules Unchained” and Benito Stefanelli was also in “The Pumaman.”
• Creditswatch: Host segments directed by Trace Beaulieu. Clayton James does hair and makeup for the last time in season 5.
• Fave riff: “Emo, avec lute.” Honorable mention: “Remind your engineers to use coasters on me.”
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I do love that “Emo avec lute”, apparently the Secret Agent Super Dragon producers’ knock-off of “Jester with a Lute” by Franz Hals. But what always come to my mind when thinking about this episode is a line from Crow’s screenplay, as Holly Affirmations holds a gun to Sandy Windham-Hill‘s head:
Joel [as Holly]: Then you understand, Mr. Windham-Hill. Nothing personal…
Servo [as Sandy]: Uh, boundaries, Holly! Boundaries!
That cracks me up every time!
I haven’t seen it unedited, but it is available on a German DVD. Because the disc is German, it’s region 2 PAL. But it comes in five, count ’em, five covers, and has English audio and subtitles. I found it Xploited Cinema, so check it out. :cool:
“I just know I’m gonna bend at the waist one of these days”
Best riff from the movie.
Alsheimer:
Its Daddy-o. The reason was that the Miracle Grow Baby had gotten baby food all over the control panel.
Re this movie: “Emo, avec lute” sums up why I love MST3K. Three words, delivered deadpan, that make a piece of utter dreck into gut-busting comic gold.
The jazz skit in this one is one of my favorite musical skits. The other is the Tom Servo choir is Starfighters.
Thanks lpydmblb
Can’t get this theme song out of my HEAD!!!
yipes i confused this with agent from harm-that was prince’s finest role-
is this the filmwhere the super spy goes boating with the bad guy’s moll?
The funny thing is, that “college town in Michigan” is a small town over in the middle of nowhere. It isn’t near any interstates or major cities. There isn’t a college anywhere near it, let alone cliffs for people to crash their cars off of.
The mystery is why did they decide to use the name of that town?
I guess shiny suits haven’t caught on
Minsky was real, and I had him!!
It was back in the early 70’s, and I got him as a present from my granparents. He wasn’t called Minsky, but i don’t remember his real name.
And yes, that was his entire shtick: walking a bit, repeating that damn greeting, wailing siren, walking some more…ad infinitum.
Like Sampo, I hadn’t seen this episode in along time, and had remembered it as being mediocre. But after watching it afew days ago from the Volume 12 set, I actually enjoyed it alot! The segments are very good, the riffing above average, and the movie itself is quirky enough to keep my interest. The ’60’s spy movie genre is always been good fodder for these guys, and this wasn’t any exception. (Although I second Sampo’s observation about the poor condition of the print; it gets aggravating after some scenes are cut short and the audio drifts from one scene to the next.)
Fav riff: as Super Dragon sneaks into the meeting with the other criminal masterminds, and place black blocks with astrological names on the table, you hear Joel say, “The Society of Guys who can Make a ‘W’ can now begin”. The comment is so off-the-wall, its one of those things you wished you had thought to say.
I also watched the trailer for this from the Rhino set, and noticed how there were many scenes not included on the MST version. I always wondered if the exclusion of certain scenes affected the movies that BB riffed on. Because, in certain cases, I think a movie’s overall product could be affected if key elements are removed (in MST’s case, due to the time factor). In the case of “Secret Agent Super Dragon”, however, I’m sure it wasn’t that big a deal!
There are many things to like about this episode. The riffing is good, the host segments (especially SOL’s interpretation of Super Dragon’s theme music) are all pretty solid. I’ve mentioned before that a good portion of my favorite episodes are in the 400-500 seasons. This definetly ranks up there.
Favorite episode riff —
Super Dragon (to girl in bikini): Are you a natural red head?
Crow: Are you a natural black head?
No problem, AlsHeimer.
Re “Rotten as British Teeth”‘s comment: that’s always been something that’s bothered me, that perhaps BB cut some movies to make them look a bit worse. One bit of “Time Chasers” haunts me: the “hero” tries driving a car to establish that he can’t drive. But then he grabs a mountain bike and heads for the woods, with some goons in pursuit. It looks like they’re setting up a bike chase scene, but before it gets going, the BB print jump cuts.
Of course, I could try to find the unMSTed print of the film to see if there really is a mountain bike chase scene, but lets face it, that ain’t happening. Still, it bothers me.
Favorite riff (by Crow, during a fight scene): “That’s it, Gary. This is the last time you’re gonna come home late!”
Shouldn’t find it funny, but I do.
#62: Actually, that one’s from Danger!! Death Ray.
I thought the “chi-chi rodrigweez” reference was borrowed from an episode of The Odd Couple?
Anyone remember that one?
Regards,
GregS
Actually GregS, I thought it was from Mary Tyler Moore ( see #28 above ), but R.A. Roth ( #32 ) seems pretty authoritative regarding WKRP.
We’ll have to research it further if we disagree.
I like this episode.but do not love it.
I watched on the rhino set(this generation mystie and proud :wink: )
One part thats jumping out at me is in the begining when the blonde spy lady is walking and all we can see is her legs and feet and we get several good riffs
Joel-Secret agent mary kay
Crow-any minute now it’ll pan up and be john cleese in a dress.
i never got that until i got into monty python.Then it clicked.
another less thought of riff is in the opening credits(I love credit riffs)
and we see a ciggie smoking,and crow says “someone was smoking a crayon I HATE THAT!
that just cracks me up everytime.This would probably be a good chill episode for a mystie,while multitasking.But i wouldnt recomendit to a new potential fan.
oh and sitting Duck i love your comment lol :lol:
I cleary remember ‘Chy-chy Rodrwagueeze’ from WKRP. Also forgot a Poopie bit: When the ‘bots are introducing Micro-golf, Crow starts to speak, but Trace burps. Kevin(in character) says, ‘Whoa! El belch-a-rino!’ Joel, as he goes back to his mark, then says, ‘Speecy spicy, take 22.’
After struggling a bit in the first three episodes of this season the Brains regain their footing with this one. The first of several obvious ’60s Bond rip-offs they’d tackle in the series and one of the best. The oily,smarmy lead was absolutely lacking in charm which made him such an easy target to be gleefully torn apart by Joel and the ‘Bots.
The most memorable line for me was when Super Dragon snatches away the just lit cigarette of the female lead, provoking the response “Secret Agent Super Rude”!
This episode wasn’t as hilarious throughout as “Danger! Death Ray” or “Agent for H.A.R.M.” but it’s still very good and as I noted earlier show the Brains regaining their stride after three average outings to start this season.
Love Margaret Lee! Call me sick, but that’s just how I feel. For those of you who don’t know, Margaret plays Super Dragon’s “false eyelash worshipping” assistant, Agent Fulton.
By the way, I could never get over the musical sketch. It had me laughing so damn hard, my couch was soaked with saliva by the time the sketch was over. Sorry if that last part grossed some of you out!
Love Those musical references!
“SCIENCE!”
Yep, Minsky actually walks and talks exactly as depicted on TV. I won it in the auction at the end of the series and put some batteries in to see and it lit right up and started shuffling around on the floor.
Minksy DOES exist! I found an original of the toy at the Salvation Army a month ago. I decided not to buy it cause it was broken and sticky, but wanted it cause I love that sketch. A month later it was gone, I was bummed and said “huh, probably shoulda bought that thing.” true story
One of my siblings had a robot like Minsky. It said the exact same phrase, but I remember it as all silver and I think it had a different name.
What is the deal with the old 70’s style pimp coat Clayton is wearing when he returns to Deep 13?
I love Clayton’s introduction. “Your experiment this week has a duel purpose. Oh it will hurt like always…”
The theme song host segment is fun. The makings of a good song were there. Tom nails it when he describes Joel as taking a chance but blowing it badly. But the highlight is again is Trace’s puppetry skills playing the trumpet.
Monster A-Go-Go callback “But there was no monster.”
I’m not sure I understand the super villain conference call. In particular I don’t understand Frank’s disinterest. This is normally something he’d enthusiastically bumble his way through.
I love the credit sequence of part 1 of the MST wrap. It might be my favorite when Jack Perkins shoots someone and has to haul away the body.
Favorite Riffs:
guy gets shot and runs off holding his hand. Joel: ”Quick get it under cold water.”
Tom “I got to drain the super dragon.”
The music abruptly stops. Crow “Oh that happens to everybody now and again.”
Secret Agent “Cyanide.” Tom “It’s like poison or something.”
Tom “It would really help if they’d let us in on the plot.”
Guy is unrolled from an area rug. Tom “Ah crimeny, Dave’s doing his human cake roll thing again. You gotta jump on him and squirt the jelly out.” [this a classic where did that come from riff?]
OK, here is the evil plan as i see it.
Evil EuroCorp is manufacturing drugged gum as part of their generic world domination plan as explained in the movie. Now, your standard evil european (aren’t they all?) will tell you to be successful in this endeavor you need two key elements. a third world factory to manufacture and disguise said drug into a cheap Ming vase knock off without being noticed. Second, you need test subjects. So what do you do? Get a bunch of college kids because, well you know, then pick a small American college because no one will notice a bunch of inexplicable deaths at Michigan as opposed to oh say…UMass. and of course the students are Americans so your evil european doubles up his fun. the only thing you have to realy watch out for is a badly dubbed quasi euro superagent and his half wit ex con friend. wait…
Skenderberg #15: Did anyone understand the villian’s nefarious plan? I got that the chewing gum was drugged (sorry, Sampo; no idea why they needed to test it in Michigan) and then it turned out some vases were made from pressed drugs, and then, somehow, they will rule the world. Did I miss a step somewhere?
Maybe they’re pawns for Pinky and the Brain, who often had similar nonsensical world domination schemes.
@ #75: Speaking as another thrift shop trawler, I know the feeling.
So is this the most unlikeable mst3000 hero?
I’ve noticed an error in the cast roundup: Charity Farrel was the name of Marisa Mell’s character, not the name of the actress.
I wanted to vote on this episode, but all I got after voting was the phrase, “Failed To Verify Referrer” so I don’t know what I did wrong. It’s probably better that way cause I would only go three stars for this ep. It is one of a very few for me where the host segments are funnier than the movie. I love the theme song and Spy Who Hugged Me segments, and the invention exchange is great from both the SOL and Deep 13.
The movie is good enough I guess, but it is not great. I do agree with Crowschmo at #40 in that I love the lines about wanting to find knickknacks from Holland. Those riffs slay me.
#79: I wouldn’t say unlikeable…he’d have to have a personality to be like that. He’s more like a G.I. Joe action figure with a weird dubbed voice…
I like this one – not one of the best of their spy movies (that would be Operation Double Double 007 for me), but a good sleeper episode…
SASD: “Do you speak English?”
Lady: “Nay!”
SASD: “Italian?”
Lady: “Nay!”
SASD: “Some other time then?”
Tom: “Nay!”
Boundaries, Holly, boundaries!
“This episode is on Rhino’s Vol. 12.”
I love that you include this info as several times I red these guide entries and say to myself, “I want to watch that episode now! Which set is it in again?” It’s a great convenience. Thanks!
@ #76 (Dan in WI):
Actually, the whole ensemble (the coat, the straw boater, the Rah sign) bring to my mind the 1920s, not the ’70s.
@ #79 (ck):
No, no, no. Adam Chance from ‘Agent for H.A.R.M.’ is far and away the most unlikeable “hero.”
“Oh wow, I bet this guy’s so cool! He smokes, he carries a gun, and he…makes a lot of…phone calls.”
As far as goofy Italian spy movies go, this isn’t quite “Operation Double 007” or “Danger!! Death Ray”, but it still makes me laugh a whole lot. It’s yet another episode where it took me several viewings before I comprehended the plot, but I think I can be forgiven for that since the plot makes absolutely no sense.
I love Minsky. Especially Joel going at him with a baseball bat. “HEY!” “Uh…” “You were too!”
“Watch, they’re gonna pan up and it’s gonna be John Cleese.” I wish it had been, he would have made the movie so much better. :)
I actually kinda like some of these episodes where the movie is in horrible shape, ’cause all the film splices tend to give the Brains more to work with. The guys’ reaction to Super Dragon suddenly teleporting across the room makes me laugh out loud every single time.
Words can’t describe how hard I was laughing the first time I heard Servo say “Emo, Avec Lute”. Every scene in that art gallery place is full of great riffs. “Nobody in this movie knows when to stop decorating!” “My table’s a guy, my pen is a phone, I’m nuts!” “It’s a great day at House of Art!” “ROB– Oh, you’re right here…”
“All right, an action sequence!…And it’s over.” This is surprisingly talky for a spy movie, isn’t it? At least Neil Connery and Bart Fargo actually fought guys. Super Dragon’s more on par with Adam Chance in the “actionlessness” department.
I occasionally fall into riffing the movie along with Joel and the bots when I watch MST3K. During the scene around the table with the Society of Guys Who Can Make a W (you know, “Pluto.” “Goofy. Scrooge McDuck.”), surely I can’t be the only one who responded to “Luna” with “Lovegood”?
I’m with Sampo. Frank’s “Eagerly.” kills me every time.
I used this episode to introduce my ex-girlfriend to MST3K (it was the only episode I could find on Netflix at the time). Much to my surprise, she was one of the few people I’ve met who got the show right away.
I remember watching this with my daughter oh so long ago, so for me this one is special. A nice bonding moment between generations. :heart: I’ve got to watch this again soon. I always wondered if before he became super dragon he was just called regular dragon. :?:
I had a Minsky as a child, although I do not recall if that was his name. However, I DO definitely recall the following features of said robot:
* He did a rudimentary kind of walking thing, much like that robot in Pod People.
* He produced a very foul and acrid-smelling smoke from his head region if you inserted a tab of some caustic chemical in one of his head orifices.
* He said the following phrase, endlessly, in a weirdly stentorian robot voice: “I am the atomic super robot. Please give my best wishes to everybody!”
Actually, he was pretty cool. I think even at that tender young age I knew how weird it was that this robot wanted ME to give his best wishes to everybody. I mean, if he WAS the “atomic super robot,” can’t HE convey his salutations and apropos felicitations to the hoi polloi?
I watch the episode then I watch the trailer. I thought it was a solid episode until I view the trailer.
When I watch the trailer, I always think that this episode could be a lot better had they included the scenes from the trailer. My guess is they were hurt for time and didn’t want to edit too much so that the plot would make some sense.
Has anyone sen this movie un-riffed? By the way, I agree with #83 for mentioning if this is out on DVD.
#86
” I always wondered if before he became super dragon he was just called regular dragon.”
NAY! He was called Dragon. Kimono Dragon. (Dadadadada!)
Fave riff is also “Hooray, I’m SuperClown!!!” with “Hi, Honey I’m smooth.” a close second.
Dr. F’s seminar on operating a supervillain franchise (featuring Frank’s raging apathy throughout) remains one of my all-time favorite sketches.
#91, Dr. F’s idea of the supervillan franchise is basically how the Pointy-Haired Boss runs Dilbert’s company, when you come right down to it.
That Super Dragon…man is he smooth!
My reaction was similar to many people here–prepared to watch it as a chore, and surprised how much I enjoy it. I won’t say it’s a favorite, mostly because I don’t think the movie gives the Brains a lot to work with. But I think they should get top marks for avoiding James Bond refs whenever possible, forcing themselves to riff on this movie as they find it. The best bits come in small moments–perhaps my favourite is when S.D. is about to get funky with “Rembrandt 13” and the power goes out–and Crow comments that “that happens to a lot of people”–a deliciously naughty riff disguised as an innocent comment.
I love the host segments immensely in this one–especially the Deep 13 stuff. Frank is the key element here–his lethargic non-participation in Dr F’s seminar is pitch-perfect. The host segments are great, too–but then I always love Crow’s awful spec scripts, and I’m a sucker for lame puns.
One comment about the movie itself–I hate to say it, but this looks like it could have been a pilot for a mildly interesting TV series. The twist would be that every week, Super Dragon would have some evil villain to thwart, but would need Baby Face as his sidekick. So Baby Face would keep deferring his return to Sing Sing, while getting to travel the world and use his safecracking/B & E skills for the good guys. He might even get the odd girl sometimes, though that would be more for comic effect. Maybe that just shows how far more interesting Baby Face is as a character–his Lumpenproletariat skillfulness is a perfect foil to Super Dragon’s clumsy suavity, and I feel he was quite underused in this movie. Heck, I’d even give him his own series after a season or two, having him assigned to other agents in the same organisation. He could develop a clever catchphrase, he’d appear on T-shirts for a while, then we’d all get sick of him, then his show would be unceremoniously cancelled, and finally, after a few years, he’d be either an Internet meme or an obscure reference in an MST-type show.
Whaddya think, sirs?
Not a fave of mine. Awful, awful movie. Did anyone else want to slap the smarmy “hero”? Is he really too cheap to buy his own cigarettes? He steals it, takes one puff, then wastes the rest. I guess they were much cheaper then. Here, the Brains are in danger of having the movie sink the riffing, which hasn’t happened in years by this point, but somehow they keep it afloat with a handful of zingers. For the host segments, we get another of Crow’s scripts, which is fun. And Frank’s reaction to Dr F’s sketch is “eagerly” great.
3 Stars for me.
Favorite Riff-
Mike: “All we can afford is to look. *forced chuckle*”
Tom: “….*….heh-heh. ….GET OUT!!!”
Secret Agent…Super Dragon…Secret Agent…Super Dragon…Secret Agent…Super Dragon…(Ad infinitum).
Nice, but Danger! Death Ray! is not.
Maybe they decided to test the goofy gum in Michigan because they also wanted to stop off at the Ann Arbor Art Fair and pick up some nice little gifts for their family? They put on a pretty good show, you know.
#93
Wait. I know just the catchphrase for Baby Face.
“You know you want me baby!”
(And there just might be a number of shirts with
the phrase he could pick up cheap).
Chi-Chi is definetly WKRP. That was part of Les Nessman’s shtick. He would always mispronounce names[especially sports figures] during his newscast.
Some of my favorite riffs are the ones where the guys can’t hear/understand what the movie characters are saying. This episode has one of the best– the translation of Super Dragon’s rushed “Meninherlife?” to Joel’s utterly befuddled “Mennonites?!”