That Man from Rio - up to His Ears

Director Philippe de Broca (King of Hearts, On Guard) and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo's (Breathless) most successful collaborations, That Man From Rio was a riotous cut above the James Bond spoofs of the day and Up to His Ears, its follow-up, notched up the action even higher. Set against the beauty of Brazil, Belmondo and Francoise Dorleac are in hot pursuit of a stolen Amazonian statuette, while others pursue them for the same treasure. This recognized inspiration for Raiders of the Lost Ark was nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay. In Up to His Ears, Belmondo plays a bored and recently bankrupted millionaire who is convinced to allow someone to murder him so that he can leave the insurance money is his will. He's fine with the plan until he meets a stunning stripper (Ursula Andress) and tries to reverse his deal, setting off a madcap chase across China and Tibet.