| Malaga/ Fire Over Africa | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Richard Sale |
| Written by | Robert Westerby |
| Starring | Maureen O'Hara Macdonald Carey Binnie Barnes |
| Release date(s) | 1954 |
| Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Malaga (also known in the USA as Fire Over Africa) is a 1954 British film starring Maureen O'Hara as a former O.S.S. James Bond type secret agent and Macdonald Carey as a smuggler. It was directed by Richard Sale on location in Malaga and set in the international city of Tangiers. Peter Sellers dubbed at least six actors in the cast without credit[1] with one account listing fourteen.[2]
Joanna Dane (Maureen O'Hara) is sent to Tangiers to get the information on and close down an international smuggling ring. Dane is adept at jiu jitsu, firearms, and wisecracks that she uses on anyone who tangles with her. Her beauty, attractive outfits and skill with playing cards gets her a position as a croupier at a smuggler's hangout called Frisco's run by the hard blonde Frisco (Binnie Barnes). Joanna also is pursued by smuggler Van Logan (MacDonald Carey) who she uses by having him take her to Ali Baba's, a parfumerie run by the suspicious Mustapha (Ferdy Mayne).
During her work at Friscos, Joanna is pestered by Danny Boy (Maureen's brother James O'Hara), Logan's Irish assistant who ignores her insults and warnings to let her alone. When the embarrassed Danny Boy threatens Joanna, she grabs him and throws him to the floor. Augie (Harry Lane) another target of Joanna's surveillance beats Danny Boy's head with his cane knocking him unconsciuous. Logan fights with Augie with Augie revealing he carries a sword cane by tossing the blade at Logan.
Joanna accompanies Logan, Danny Boy and his crew on their boat the Banshee to smuggle goods into Spain where they are hijacked by a boat led by Augie. The Banshee manages to escape but without their cargo. Logan is arrested by the Civil Guard but manages to escape with Augie unsuccessfully attempting to assassinate Joanna. Joanna tracks down the smuggling ring, shooting Logan and discovering the real head of the smuggling ring who she has the Civil Guard eliminate.