Agent for H.A.R.M.

Agent for H.A.R.M. is a 1966 science fiction spy thriller directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Mark Richman, one of a number of spy thrillers of the era having conspicuous sci-fi elements. Here it is the deadly spores which turn human flesh into fungus on contact.

The film was intended to be the television pilot for a new spy series. However, it was later decided that it should be given a theatrical release instead. It was released as a double feature with Wild Wild Winter.

Plot
Adam Chance (Peter Mark Richman), works for an American agency, H.A.R.M. (Human Aetiological Relations Machine). He is assigned to protect Dr. Jan Steffanic (Carl Esmond), a recent Soviet defector who has developed a new weapon which fires spores that upon contact with skin slowly eat the body away.

Following Dr. Steffanic's arrival in the US he is taken into protective custody by H.A.R.M. and is placed in a beach house along with his niece and Agent Chance to develop a spore antidote. Here he reveals the communists' real plan, which is to dust all of the American crops with these deadly spores. During their time at this house Chance falls for Steffanic's niece Ava Vestok (Barbara Bouchet), who is later revealed to be a communist spy. After the flat is attacked, Dr. Steffanic is kidnapped by European spies and taken to a warehouse. Chance eventually rides in and a gun fight ensues in which Steffanic (spelled “Stefanik” on-screen) is exposed to the deadly spores in a valiant sacrifice, and dies. Afterwards, Chance re-appears at the beach house and arrests Ava for good.

Cast

 * Mark Richman as Adam Chance
 * Carl Esmond as Professor Janos Steffanic
 * Barbara Bouchet as Ava Vestok
 * Martin Kosleck as Basil Malko
 * Wendell Corey as Jim Graff
 * Robert Quarry as Borg
 * Rafael Campos as Luis
 * Aliza Gur as Mid-Eastern contact
 * Donna Michelle as Marian
 * Marc Snegoff as Conrad
 * Chris Anders as Schloss
 * Steve Stevens as Billy
 * Horst Ebersberg as Helgar
 * Ray Dannis as Henry Manson
 * Robert Donner as Morgue attendant

Music

 * On The Damned's 1980 LP, The Black Album, Adam Chance is mentioned alongside Zorro and Corporal Clott in the song The History Of The World, Part 1, which was also released as a single.
 * In 2009, there was a song of the same name written about the film by punk rock band, The Riverdales

Reception
Howard Thompson of The New York Times called it an "anemic James Bond imitation".

Trivia
This film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000, as the host segments feature Mike Nelson being put on Trial. This is also Patrick Brantseg's first episode as Gypsy due to Jim Mallon's focus on directing.