Die Diamantenhölle am Mekong (1964)

For some time, large quantities of diamonds have been sold through Amsterdam. Investigations by a journalist have revealed that the diamonds come from an illegal mine in Thailand, not far from the Mekong. The mine is run by a man named John Yakiris. Two groups are after the diamonds: a gang led by a man known by the alias “The Yellow Tiger,” and the international diamond syndicate, which wants to take possession of the mine so it can control the global diamond trade. Before the journalist can describe the mine’s exact location to his secretary, he is murdered. The syndicate wants to find out where the mine is and sends its best man, Vermeeren, to Bangkok, where he is to meet a diamond dealer named Si Ting Mo, a business partner of the syndicate. At the airport, before the flight to Bangkok, Vermeeren meets journalist Werner Homfeld, who suspects that Vermeeren is trying to discover the mine’s location and decides to keep on his trail. Vermeeren is called to the telephone, while Homfeld is distracted by the beautiful Vivian Lancaster, who is also flying to Bangkok because she works as a doctor at a snake farm on the Mekong. When passengers for the Bangkok flight are called to board, Homfeld is puzzled to see that Vermeeren has suddenly become a different man. This man, too, shows great interest in the diamonds and the mine’s location once in Bangkok. Homfeld and the false Vermeeren keep crossing paths, watching each other and trying to outsmart one another. The false Vermeeren is beaten up, while Homfeld narrowly escapes an attempt on his life. Both seek out Si Ting Mo and spend the evening at the Lunar Club, where the false Vermeeren has arranged to meet the Yellow Tiger. A brawl soon breaks out, during which Joe Warren, an allegedly unemployed jungle guide, proves to be especially good in a fight. He thus saves British woman Gloria Pickerstone, who is travelling with her servant Smokie and is eager to go on safari. Joe agrees to accompany her into the jungle. The false Vermeeren has persuaded Si Ting Mo to request more diamonds from the secret diamond farm. When the diamonds are handed over, the various groups clash: Homfeld, the false Vermeeren, and the Yellow Tiger’s men all try to get the bag of money. Homfeld eventually secures it and later hands it over to the false Vermeeren. The latter notices that an envelope containing a map is missing. The map shows not only the location of the snake farm but also that of the mine. At the diamond mine, the mad John Yakiris has meanwhile had all the exits rigged with explosives. Attempts to escape are punishable by death, and Yakiris’s snakes kill the rebels. When the camp doctor starts a revolt against Yakiris, he too is killed. With the camp now without a doctor, Yakiris orders the abduction of Vivian Lancaster. Homfeld, the false Vermeeren, Joe, Gloria Pickerstone, and Smokie are travelling through the jungle. There they are watched by the men of the Yellow Tiger, whose real name is Richard, and the men make it difficult for the group to proceed. Richard and his girlfriend, Jeanette May-Wong, are intercepted by an employee of the kidnapped Vivian, who asks them for help. Jeanette promptly pretends to be a doctor and goes with the employee and some of Richard’s men to Homfeld’s group. Together, they reach the snake farm. When Jeanette tries to steal all the vehicles belonging to the travelling party with Richard’s men, she is discovered. Homfeld and the false Vermeeren, who are now working together, recognize Jeanette as the Yellow Tiger’s girlfriend from the Lunar Club. They take her to the place where they believe Richard is. A fierce gunfight breaks out, during which Gloria Pickerstone happens to find the entrance to the mine. Homfeld and his companions, along with Richard and his followers, charge toward the mine. Richard and his men die when the alerted John Yakiris has the access bridge blown up. Homfeld, the false Vermeeren, Gloria, Joe, and Smokie are captured, but Homfeld is mostly overjoyed to see Vivian alive. She warns her friends about John Yakiris; she was once his doctor at a mental hospital in Bangkok. Yakiris is indeed insane and has had the entire mine rigged with explosives so that every building on the grounds can be blown up. After killing many of the workers this way, he plans to escape with Vivian. When she does not follow him immediately, he locks her in one of the huts, which he intends to blow up along with the huts where Homfeld and the others are being held. Homfeld and the others manage to escape. They free Vivian and disarm Yakiris, who is lynched by the camp workers, now free. Shortly afterwards, the police arrive; Homfeld had informed them of his destination before setting out. It is now also revealed that the false Vermeeren is actually named Jack McLean and is an Interpol commissioner. Joe Warren, too, is really a police officer. Gloria is disappointed, but quickly shifts her attention elsewhere and wonders what a policeman would be like as a husband.