Bullet Points: Mr. No Legs
Cinema has not been known to be the most inclusive place. If you look back throughout the history of film there are a lot of people that look kind of similar. That is not to say there are not films out there with some diversity, especially if you know where to look. One movie that always comes to my mind when I hear the cries for more diversity in film is the 1978 film Mr. No Legs. Ok, so Mr. No Legs is definitely an exploitation film that stars Ted Vollrath, a U.S. Marine who lost his legs in Korea only to become a blackbelt in karate. Mr. No Legs was the only film for Vollrath and it uses his disability as a selling point and of course names this film after him, but I don’t care because it is a fun action movie and I just so happen to have some Bullet Points. So take a seat and enjoy the Mr. No Legs Bullet Points.
- Wheelin’ and Dealin’ – The drug business is a dirty business. You always have to be weary of getting ripped off and when Lou (Rance Howard) makes a deal for some drugs hidden in tobacco leaves, he unknowingly gets ripped off. Luckily for Lou, he has Mr. No Legs on his side. Mr. No Legs is the enforcer for the local drug kingpin, D’Angelo, and like his name implies he has no legs. What Mr. No Legs does have is a wheelchair, but not your average wheelchair. Mr. No Legs has a wheelchair with twin double barrel shotguns and you better believe he uses them to mow down the thieves.
- Runnin’ and Gunnin’ – Ken was helping out Lou and after the deal he goes home to his girlfriend, but when she realizes he is in the dirty drug business she tries to leave. Ken is not happy and the resulting scuffle sees Ken’s girlfriend leathally fall head first into a television. Lou and Mr. No Legs show up to clean up the mess and that is no problem because they can just make it look like an overdose. Except that the girlfriend’s brother happens to be Andy (Ron Slinker) a detective in the police department. Andy teams up with Chuck (Richard Jaeckel) because they quickly realize that it was not an overdose and D’Angelo’s drug business has to be involved.
- Kickin’ and Screamin’ – Mr. No Legs goes forward with two stories once the cops are involved. First is the Andy and Chuck trying to find the murder and stop the drug business, and possibly a mole in the department. Second is Mr. No Legs trying to take over the drug business from D’Angelo. Mr. No Legs is a real ornery SOB and D’Angelo doesn’t like all of the murder and wants to have Mr. No Legs killed (murder stops murder I guess) and all that does is make Mr. No Legs angrier. Of course these two stories intersect and lead to some quality action scenes. One of the best fight scenes happens at a bar and features a cross dresser, a little person, Mr. No Legs and two women slapping each other silly (I told you this movie has diversity). When Andy shows up, out come the pool cues, oars and the obligatory broken tables and chairs and that sword hanging on that wall teasing us all.
- Jumpin’ and Jivin’ – The second fight at the bar features the sword and Lou accidently gets a taste of Mr. No Legs’ shotguns. Andy gets the opportunity to do some grappling which must have been second nature for Ron Slinker who was way more famous as a professional wrestler. All the bar fights were entertaining, but none of them can stand up to the top fight in Mr. No Legs. We finally get to see Ted Vollrath as Mr. No Legs use his martial arts skills during a poolside fight, a poolside fight that makes its way into the pool. Mr. No Legs uses his wheelchair in unique ways, and it also helps to have a shuriken hidden in the wheel. If all the fights in Mr. No Legs leaving you wanting more don’t worry. There is an extended car chase to end the movie that seems to go on forever. However, I can’t be too upset at a car chase that features a lift bridge and a mobile home.
Mr. No Legs is an exploitation film that has a unique premise, but besides calling the movie Mr. No Legs and having a character named Mr. No Legs it does not make the character a sideshow. The movie could easily have had any other person in the role and the movie would have worked. In a way that hurts Mr. No Legs as the most unique feature is played pretty straight and the run of the mill storyline is almost not enough to carry the film. Throw in that Ted Vollrath and Ron Slinker were two of the main stars and both only in one film it could have gone all wrong. Luckily they were paired with professional actors Rance Howard and Richard Jaeckel. I think the diversity is a plus for Mr. No Legs and the action is worth watching if you come across it. A plus for the Mr. No Legs Bullet Points is the Mr. No Legs Bonus Bullet Points.
- Also Known As – You might find Mr. No Legs as Killers Die Hard, Gun Fighter, Destructor, or The Amazing Mr. No Legs.
- Conspicuous – I dig Chuck’s bright orange 1973 Chevrolet Camaro, but explain to me how it is a good car for stakeouts and surveillance work.
- Flippant Bonus Bullet Point – Mr. No Legs was directed by Ricou Browning who is famous for his work on Flipper which may explain why Ken was played by Flipper star Luke Halpin.
- Mercy Mercy Me – The Soundtrack to Mr. No Legs works for the most part, but I could have done without the Mercy songs and their onscreen appearance.
