Agent for H.A.R.M. is a 1966 science fiction spy thriller directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Peter Mark Richman. It is one of a number of spy thrillers of the time which have conspicuous sci-fi elements. In this case it is the inclusion of deadly spores which turn people into creatures made of fungus.

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.

Plot

Adam Chance (Peter Mark Richman), works for an American agency, H.A.R.M. (Human Aetiological Relations Machine). 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.

Cast

Actor	Role
Peter Mark Richman	Adam Chance
Carl Esmond	Professor Janos Steffanic
Barbara Bouchet	Ava Vestok
Martin Kosleck	Basil Malko
Wendell Corey	Jim Graff
Robert Quarry	Borg
Rafael Campos	Luis
Aliza Gur	Mid-Eastern contact
Donna Michelle	Marian
Marc Snegoff	Conrad
Chris Anders	Schloss
Steve Stevens	Billy
Horst Ebersberg	Helgar
Ray Dannis	Henry Manson
Robert Donner	Morgue attendant

Trivia

• Aetiology is a British variant of etiology which is the branch of medical science concerned with causes and origins of diseases.
• In 1997, Agent for H.A.R.M. was featured on movie-mocking television show Mystery Science Theater 3000, as experiment (episode) #815.
• A series of webcomics by John Troutman feature Felicity Flint, Agent from H.A.R.M.
• The computer game No One Lives Forever features an organization known as H.A.R.M. What this stands for is never made clear although it is the subject of a number of jokes throughout the series.

References

External links

• MST3K Episode Guide: Agent for H.A.R.M.