Movie

See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)

One of several comedies starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, this entertaining romp pitted the duo against a sexy and clever hitwoman in Joan Severance’s Eve. Kevin Spacey plays the considerably less intelligent English henchman Kirgo.

Dave (Wilder) is the deaf owner of a New York news kiosk, and the blind Wally (Pryor) is his new assistant. The pair soon get into trouble – fistfights in a bar and arguments with pedestrians – but their problems get serious after Wally’s bookmaker unloads a gold coin… shortly before he’s bumped off by Eve. Wally hears the gunshot and smells the assassin’s perfume as she makes her getaway. Dave sees the killer – and her legs – from behind. Naturally, the pair get arrested at the scene, but not before Wally unknowingly collects the coin.

With two disabled main characters, the jokes could easily have backfired, but everything is good-natured and the heroes overcome their handicaps to triumph. Besides the two killers and their mysterious employer Sutherland (Anthony Zerbe), Dave and Wally must also contend with the obsessed Captain Braddock (Alan North) who’s convinced they are guilty. Fortunately, the duo has an ally in Wally’s sister Adele (Kirsten Childs). No prizes for guessing the girl ends up captured, forcing the heroes to come up with a daring rescue plan.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil was one of several action comedies I considered for a top-half ranking slot. Ultimately, this movie triumphs over its competition because of the superior humour, stylish villainess, and inventive situations.

Villainess

Eve (Joan Severance)

From the moment Eve makes her first appearance, it’s clear she’s a dangerous woman. She may not be top of the villainous hierarchy, but she is the comedy duo’s deadliest opponent. More competent than the hapless Kirgo and smarter than her employer gives her credit for. As the most interesting foe, it’s no surprise the female assassin survives while her comrades bite the dust.

After failing to acquire the coin, Eve and Kirgo soon discover that the arrested Dave and Wally have their prize and so pose as lawyers. Tipped off by Eve’s legs and perfume, the deaf / blind protagonists deduce their “attorneys” are there to kill them and make a dramatic escape. That part goes well – thanks to the inept NYPD – but the villains soon catch up.

Eve retrieves the coin and Dave persuades her to kiss him, but this villainess is not one for mercy and Kirgo is even less generous. With things looking gloomy, the duo combine their skills. Dave reads Eve’s lips while she talks on a payphone, and Wally surprises Kirgo with a punch. The heroes then go on the run – or rather, a chaotic drive – through the streets of New York City.

This car chase goes on for several minutes with assassins and police in pursuit. Somehow Wally avoids a road accident, but crashes into a garbage-laden barge. Despite eluding Eve and Captain Braddock, the heroes realise the only way to clear their names is to get the coin back. This leads to a comical sequence at a rural hotel resort where the duo impersonate foreign doctors (rather hopelessly, it must be said). Adele distracts Kirgo while Dave searches Eve’s room and Wally stands guard outside (until he’s dragged into a medical conference).

After Dave retrieves the coin once more, a towel-wrapped Eve walks in after she finishes a shower. Dave uses – let’s say unorthodox means – to improvise, and she raises her hands. He kisses the naked woman (who can blame him?) before leaving, but it doesn’t take long for the assassins to realise Adele is working with the duo.

Sutherland’s estate – the setting for the final showdown – is a mansion patrolled by a burly groundskeeper and ferocious guard dogs. Wally and Dave rescue Adele – after knocking out Eve – but they are captured. Kirgo brings Wally before Sutherland, who then reveals the “gold coin” is a room-temperature superconductor.

The foolish henchman renegotiates his cut, prompting Sutherland to switch off the lights and shoot him. It turns out the main villain is just as blind as Wally, leading to a standoff with the two men stalking each other around the room. This is a tense and original sequence, sadly cut short by Eve’s arrival.

Sutherland’s attempt to repeat the “lights out” trick ends with the henchwoman shooting him at point-blank range. Eve dashes to a waiting helicopter, but the heroes aren’t about to let her escape. Dave and a reluctant Wally slide down a conveniently placed wire to get the drop on the villainess. Then Adele arrives with the cavalry.

Honourable Mention: Ruthless Robbers

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) – Karla Fry (Brigitte Nielsen)

This comedy sequel made my original list, but on reflection there were better examples. Things get off to an explosive start as the statuesque blonde Karla leads a jewellery store heist in Beverly Hills. After she shoots up the place – overly dressed in a white coat, high heels, and sunglasses – the villainess leaves behind an envelope labelled with a capital A.

So begin the “alphabet bandit” crimes, and letter B is delivered after an attempted hit on police Captain Andrew Bogomil. That’s Axel Foley’s friend from the first movie, so the villains have his full attention. Up against Eddie Murphy as the con artist with a badge, they don’t stand a chance.

Karla stands out because the other villains are uninteresting. Maxwell Dent (Jürgen Prochnow) is a shady businessman running an insurance scam and arms deals on the side, and Charles Cain (Dean Stockwell) is simply a fall guy. Among the jokes and various cons, which become tired and repetitive, there’s an encounter with Karla at a gun club and not much else until the next big heist. The City Deposit is probably the best robbery, with the black-clad Karla masking up while Foley and his sidekicks race to stop them.

Karla plays policewoman and wears a gas mask for the final armed robbery at Dent’s racetrack. It’s here she gets her best moment, shooting Cain and another accomplice as part of a double-cross. Sadly, the finale at an oilfield is dull, with Karla only briefly seen and Dent too easily disposed of.

The villainess gets the drop on Foley, only to be shot by a secondary character. As anticlimactic as it sounds, unfortunately. Well, at least there’s a (poor) joke at her expense and a trademark Eddie Murphy laugh.