Zotz!

Every now and then you come across a film that you wish was better than it actually turned out to be: this is such a film. After years endlessly rehashing scenes from other successes William Castle came up with a film that was so startlingly original he was obviously completely at a loss how to exploit the idea adequately. But it leaves you glad you saw it. There's even a little mild satire in that the coin's potential is completely ignored by the Pentagon, the only person paying attention being a Russian spy working as a window cleaner.

Eccentrically cast as a brilliant authority in the field of Ancient Eastern Languages, TV comedian Tom Poston was at the time a complete unknown abroad (he's now best remembered as the landlord in "Mork and Mindy'), but proves quite an attractive personality who rises to the challenge of carrying a film. One also wishes female lead Julia Meade had made more films too.