''Four Queens for an Ace'' (, , , also known as ''An Ace and Four Queens'') is a 1966 French-Spanish-Italian

spy film The spy film, also known as the spy thriller, is a film genre, genre of film that deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way (such as the adaptations of John le Carré) or as a basis for fantasy (such as many Jame ...

, directed by Jacques Poitrenaud and starring

Roger Hanin Roger Hanin (born Roger Levy, 20 October 1925 – 11 February 2015) was a French actor and film director, best known for playing the title role in the TV police drama, '' Navarro''. Career Roger Hanin was born in 1925 in Algiers, Algeria as Rog ...

and

Sylva Koscina Sylva Koscina (; born Silvija Košćina, ; 22 August 1933 – 26 December 1994) was a Yugoslav-born Italian actress, best known for her role as Iole, the bride of Hercules ( Steve Reeves) in ''Hercules'' (1958) and '' Hercules Unchained'' (196 ...

. It is based on a novel by Michael Loggan.Marco Giusti. ''007 all'italiana''. Isbn Edizioni, 2010. .

Plot

International spy Hakim Gregory escapes from prison by killing a number of guards. With his accomplices, Dolores and Jesus, he flees to

Málaga Málaga (; ) is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 591,637 in 2024, it is the second-most populo ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

and pays a doctor to alter his appearance using plastic surgery. Once the task is completed, Jesus kills the doctor. Four agents of the French Secret Service, tasked with finding Halim are killed. The organization then tells its ace of aces, Agent Dan Layton to find Hakim. Layton arrives in Malaga, disguised as an elegant playboy and flanked blonde Petula, another French agent, posing as a wealthy heiress. Unbeknown to Layton's fiancée, tour guide Marion, is that Layton is a secret agent. Layton and Petula check into a hotel. While they are kissing on the sofa, they are interrupted by a knock on the door. Expecting a maid, Petula says, "Come in" and is surprised to see that it is Marion. She immediately grabs the blonde and punches her in the face. Kicking off their shoes, the two barefoot women engage in an energetic fistfight that Layton is unable to stop. Spilling into the hallway, Layton finally separates the two women as they are strangling each other. Later that day, Layton finds himself in a poker game involving a number of shady men. Among them is Dolores, the co-owner of a fashion boutique with her boyfriend Mishra, who is later revealed to be Gregory's financier. Layton is accused of cheating by the others at the table and a fight ensues. Layton manages to defeat the other players and break free. Suspecting a link between Dolores and Gregory, he breaks into her boutique that night. Mishra discovers that Layton has broken into the boutique and correctly assumes he is an agent looking for Gregory. Layton is assaulted that night by a man who Layton knocks unconscious in a fight. The man is carrying X-ryas that Layton deduces are meant for Gregory as they contain secret codes that will allow Gregory to further his criminal plans. Gregory tells Dolores that Layton must be killed, but first they must recover the x-rays. During an arranged lunch, Dolores pulls a gun on Layton and forces him into her sports car. Tour guide Marion witnesses the event and follows them in the tour bus. At a traffic stop, Layton grabs the gun and forces Dolores to drive to her apartment where they can have a drink and work things out. Marion's tour bus is blocked in traffic but she abandons her tour group and chases Layton on foot. Mishra and the henchman discover the Dolors and Layton, and knock Layton unconscious after retrieving the X-rays. They carry him out to one of the boutique's clothing vans, being watched by Marion. Before it departs, Marion climbs into back of the van and hides between racks of clothes. The van stops at a bull ranch and Layton, tied up, is taken to a barn to await his fate. Tired of the affair, Dolores has a change of heart and unties Layton, allowing him to escape. But first, she kisses him. Marion enters the barn, sees Dolorès kissing Layton and starts another

catfight Catfight (also girl fight) is a term for an altercation between two women, often characterized as involving scratching, shoving, slapping, choking, punching, kicking, wrestling, biting, spitting, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding. It can also be ...

. Gregory and his henchmen arrive as well as Petula and a police officer. A brawl breaks out among all participants. One of the henchmen drops his cigarette, setting the barn on fire. Petula rushes over to Layton to see if he is alright, but is quickly attacked by Marion and the two women engage in another fight. Gregory then shoots Mishrah. Layton shoots Gregory, frees everyone, and flees in turn with Marion.

Cast

as Dan Layton *

as Dolorès *

Catherine Allégret Catherine Allégret (born 16 April 1946) is a French actress. She is the daughter of Simone Signoret and Yves Allégret.Becker, Frawley (2004) ''And the Stars Spoke Back: A Dialogue Coach Remembers Hollywood Players of the Sixties in Paris'', Sc ...

as Marion * Dominique Wilms as Petula *

Laura Valenzuela Rocío Espinosa López-Cepero (18 February 1931 – 17 March 2023), known professionally as Laura or Laurita Valenzuela (), was a Spanish television presenter, actress and model. She was one of the first television presenters in Spain appearing ...

as Rosaria *

François Maistre François Maistre (14 May 1925 – 16 May 2016) was a French film, television and theatre actor. Born in Demigny, Saône-et-Loire, France, he appeared in nearly 100 films between 1960 and 2003. His father was singer and actor A.-M. Julien. Se ...

as Hakim Gregory * Luis Pena as Mishra *

Guy Delorme Guy Delorme (23 May 1929 – 26 December 2005) was a French actor. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1951 to 1984. Filmography References External links * 1929 births 2005 deaths French male film actors {{france-film ...

as Jésus *

Serge Gainsbourg Serge Gainsbourg (; born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and director. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provocative rel ...

as man asking for a lighter

Reception

The film is generally regarded as an amusing tongue-in-cheek

Eurospy film Eurospy film, or Spaghetti spy film (when referring to Italian-produced films in the genre), is a genre of spy films produced in Europe, especially in Italy, France, and Spain, that either sincerely imitated or else parodied the British James Bo ...

. One criticism of the movie is it’s misogynistic take on women fighting over Layton.

References

External links

* French spy thriller films Italian spy thriller films Spanish spy thriller films 1960s spy thriller films Films directed by Jacques Poitrenaud Films based on French novels Films with screenplays by Jean-Loup Dabadie Films scored by Serge Gainsbourg 1960s French films 1960s Spanish films 1960s Italian films {{1960s-France-film-stub