Code Name: Diamond Head


Code Name: Diamond Head is a 1977 American television spy film starring Roy Thinnes as undercover counterintelligence officer Johnny Paul whose mission is to stop rogue double agent Sean Donovan from stealing the formula for a new chemical weapon. Originally filmed as a pilot for a new television drama—which was never picked up for series—it was eventually used for The [NBC Monday Movie] on the U.S. broadcast network NBC.

Plot

Johnny Paul is a flashy gambler and ladies' man living on O'ahu, Hawai'i. In reality, he is agent "Diamond Head" working for a secret US government agency. His mission: stop the theft of a lethal new gas, which has the potential to cause instant death upon contact. The substance was secretly developed by a top battalion of Marines at the request of a Pentagon official named Colonel Millard Butler. However, a double agent had infiltrated the unit, killed Colonel Butler, and assumed his identity. Paul uses his public persona to get close to the double agent, who is known by the pseudonym "Tree". However, once his cover is blown, it's a race against time to stop Tree from selling the secrets to an unnamed foreign power.

Cast

for the Los Angeles Times praised Jeannot Szwarc's direction, calling it "crisp and driving". Conversely, Thomas was critical of Paul King's script, finding it "too trite to succeed as the escapist entertainment intended".
The film was featured in a season six episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Home media

The film is currently available only in VHS format. The Mystery Science Theater version was released in DVD format on March 27, 2012 as part of the 23rd box set of the series.