ENEMY GOLD represented a passing of the baton (or phallic symbol of your choice) from sexploitation-action moguls Andy and Arlene Sidaris to sons Drew and Christian. The many potboilers from the elder Sidaris' Malibu Bay Films--GUNS, HARD HUNTED, DO OR DIE, SAVAGE BEACH--were sophomoric
exercises in soft-core sex and violence featuring the mildly Bond-esque escapades of centerfold-grade federal agents based in Hawaii. ENEMY GOLD launched a new franchise with the same tawdry formula applied to a smaller cast relocated in Dallas, Texas.
Anti-drug studs Chris Cannon (Bruce Penhall) and Mark Austin (Mark Barriere) and voluptuous Becky Midnite (Suzi Simpson) raid a backwoods cocaine operation without approval from their martinet chief Dickson (Alan Abelew). Dickson is secretly on the payroll of narcotics kingpin Santiago (Rodrigo Obregon), and he sidelines the hormonal heroes on trumped-up disciplinary charges, while Santiago summons Amazonian assassin Jewell Panther (Julie Strain) to wear peekaboo costumes and terminate the idle Feds, now on a camping trip. At least twice the villains have the victims helpless in their gunsights, but are just too stupid to shoot and end it. Becky's explosive-tipped crossbow bolts blast the baddies to eternity--or at least until the successor movie in the series, THE DALLAS CONNECTION, in which veteran Penthouse Pet Strain returned as an all-new femme fatale.
Her acting style might be described as plastic, though silicone is the more appropriate polymer. Only Obregon shows mild spark as the main evildoer (who runs a strip club, naturally). Past Andy Sidaris spectacles displayed a flair for action scenes, but pacing here is as languorous as the co-ed hot tub interludes. There's a subplot about Confederate treasure that does little besides inspiring the title and some cheapo Civil War flashbacks. One fresh development behind the scenes is the involvement of German and Japanese backers; in overseas territories the Sidaris sleaze is popular enough to win theatrical release, whereas ENEMY GOLD was buried in the US on home video. (Violence, extensive nudity, sex, mild profanity.) leave a comment
