These mid-1960s spy movies by Claude Chabrol are fascinating in two ways: a) because they were his training ground for his later, more celebrated films (he was already working with his favorite cinematographer, his favorite composer, some of his favorite actors, etc.), and b) because you can see a "pulpy" genre like the Eurospy filtered through Chabrol's arty sensibilities; both "Marie Chantal Vs Dr. Kha" and Chabrol's later "The Road To Corinthe" (his "Tiger" films with Roger Hanin, who also has a small role here, are less successful) are one-of-a-kind film experiences. And they both have strong, smart female characters at their center: here, Marie Chantal is thought to be a bubblehead by most people she encounters, but she is really quite capable in the body and quick in the mind; Marie Laforet plays her with a charm that is uniquely her own. The film is colorful and exotic, but action scenes are not Chabrol's forte, and the finale feels a little rushed - the movie introduces a number of intriguing minor characters, who are ultimately all dispatched offscreen. But if you want to see an arty Eurospy movie with a strong female lead, "Marie Chantal" is just the ticket. **1/2 out of 4.

The Eurospy film isn't just the domain of the Broccolis and the Italian, Mexican and American filmmakers that attempted to make their own OSS 117, Matt Helm, Santo and Kommisar X movies to take on Bond. At times, even those of a more artistic mind got involved.

Also known as Marie-Chantal contre le docteur Kha* and based on a series of novels by Jacques Chazot, this film was written and directed by Claude Chabrol, who wrote for Cahiers du cinéma before making his own films as an originator of the French New Wave. "The Balzac of Cinema," he was suited to making mystery films that were often indebted to Hitchcock.

His heroine is French It girl Marie-Chantal, who is played by a real-life French It girl Marie Laforêt. She was a singer who brought the folk music of America to France, including her version of "Blowin' in the Wind" that had a B-side of "House of the Rising Sun," along with versions of songs by Peter Paul and Mary; The Rolling Stones; Simon and Garfunkel and Marianna Faithful. Her best-known song was 1977's "Il a neigé sur Yesterday," which was a song about the breakup of The Beatles.

As she travels by train to spend the winter with her cousin, Marie-Chantal is given a jewel in the shape of a tiger with ruby eyes that contains a virus that can destroy mankind. Now, spies from every nation are dispatched to get the jewels from her by any means necessary.

If you're coming to this hoping for some of high art from Chabrol, you will be disappointed. If you'd like to see a great Eurospy, though, it has its rewards.

*Even the title is a playful joke, echoing the French title of Dr. No, James Bond 007 contre Dr. No.