Steve Collinson

Great movie for anyone raised on the more grittier movies of the 1970s. This is in the same box as The French Connection, The Boy's from Brazil and similar. Today's younger audience may not appreciate it, but for me it is pure class. All the principles are top of their game, especially Olivier as the Nazi criminal Szell. The film is predominantly lit with the available light and there adds a realism that is not so present in modern movies. Anyone with an appreciation for cinema will admire this film and cherish the performances.

I saw this film when I was 10 at the cinema, when my parents took me and my sister to see it. Probably more for my Father's sake. At the time, all that stood out was the car chase scenes. I was far too young to understand anything else Seeing it now as a 51 year old, I'm watching it from a different perspective. It's enjoyable enough. It's a tough gritty thriller, and the car chases sequences are as good today as the were 40+ years ago. Given the violence, I'm shocked in watching it now that it had a certificate to allow children in to see it. Ryan O'Neal plays against type here. I can't help but feel they wanted Charles Bronson who the Director had worked with before, because O'Neal does a Bronson like minimal dialogue performance throughout, but its hard to accept him as a tough guy. Fortunately Bruce Dern more than makes up for this questionable casting, and is the stand out performance of this movie. To conclude, this is a film is of that great 1970's noir, that's been seen in films like The French connection, Marathon Man and Saturday night fever, predominantly shot with available light and shadow. However, there's something slightly lacking that those other flicks had, that this one doesn't hold. Nevertheless its worth a watch, even if its just for the car chase sequences.

I'd give it 4 or even 5 stars but for one thing. STOP Showing the outcomes in the credit sequence! They often show one or two of the couples kissing and gushing over each other in the end interview sequence, during the opening credits! Why? The viewer now knows that particular couple got along and will meet again. Why would you do that? It just spoils the episode. Or they'll show a couple being aggro with each other, so we know that particular couple didn't get along and won't be seeing each other again. Other than the above I love the show, but whomever came up with the lame idea to do that needs sacking. Does he/she read the last chapter of a book before reading the book? Its ridiculous.