Agent For H.A.R.M (1966)
Agent for H.A.R.M. is a 1966 science fiction spy thriller directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Peter Mark Richman as Adam Chance. It was originally intended that this film would act as the television pilot for a new spy series. However, it was later decided that it should be given a theatrical release instead.
Chance works for an American agency, H.A.R.M. (Human Aetiological Relations Machine) where 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 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.
The film also stars Barbara Bouchet, Martin Kosleck, Wendell Corey, Robert Quarry, Rafael Campos, Aliza Gur, Donna Michelle, Marc Snegoff, Chris Anders, Steve Stevens, Horst Ebersberg, Ray Dannis, and Robert Donner.