Predrag
This movie, based on a book by Thomas Harris ("Silence of the Lambs" and "Red Dragon") is a terrific action-thriller about a terrorist plot to inflict mass casualties upon attendees at a Super Bowl game. Robert Shaw portrayed the operative determined to stop the plot. His methods were extremely direct and effective he simply eliminated terrorists wherever he encountered them (except during a moment of weakness, when he came upon Marthe in the shower, at the first of the film, which proved to be a costly mistake). Shaw's character acted in a totally unilateral fashion, never halting to form a coalition or obtain United Nations approval. Bruce Dern played a crazy Vietnam Vet who helps the bad guys. This is suspense thriller with a brain, so don't expect wild action from scene one. It builds slowly, with sporadic action scenes interspersed, as it aims toward it's climax at the big game. From the almost documentary-like opening title sequence, devoid of music and replete with the sounds of a foreign land, this suspense epic builds slowly and with unique conviction. The terrorists are all played realistically and no one goes overboard into the realm of ham. Shaw is gritty and and steel-eyed as he works against the clock to stop the plot. Ironically, the film's Achille's heel are it's special effects near the film's end. Cinematographer John Alonzo was allowed to handle the effects shots and later, the director had to redo most of them at the last minute. The result is that by today's standards, the film falls short of being totally convincing in several scenes. Nevertheless, the editing was wonderful, the score huge, the acting great, and the story intriguing. It more than makes up for a few of those shots.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
Syl
This thriller begins slowly but builds up to a brilliant conclusion. Marthe Keller is brilliant as the Palestinian female terrorist who manipulates her boyfriend, a Vietnamese POW, brilliantly played by Bruce Dern. The relationship between Dahlia and Michael is quite believable. Dahlia is the brains and perhaps the only female in the film and she holds her own. Keller's performance is rare and exceptional. Her Dahlia could have been a caricature but she delivers a complex performance as an activist turned terrorist and killer in slow progression. The moment in their hotel before the Super Bowl displayed both their terror and fears about the diabolical plot. The Super Bowl is America's biggest event of the year. Filmed on one Super Bowl, you can't recreate it. The final scene ends too short. What happened after? Still a great film to watch repeatedly.
Petri Pelkonen
Michael Lander, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, plans a bomb attack to a NFL game with Dahlia Iyad.She's an operative of Palestinian terrorist group Black September.85000 spectators + president Jimmy Carter would be at risk of losing their lives.Israeli David Kabakov does everything he can to prevent the act from happening.Black Sunday (1977) is directed by John Frankenheimer and it's based on a novel by Thomas Harris.Ernest Lehman was among those writing the screenplay.Robert Shaw does excellent job as Kabakov.Bruce Dern is excellent as Lander.Dahlia is played by Marthe Keller, and she's very good.Fritz Weaver is superb as FBI Agent Sam Corley.Steven Keats is terrific as Moshevsky.Great job by Bekim Fehmiu, who plays Fasil.Michadel V. Gazzo is fantastic as Muzi.William Daniels does marvelous work as Pugh.Walter Gotell is magnificent as Colonel Riat.Also Clyde Kusatsu's portrayal of Freighter Captain is very good.Terry Bradshaw appears as himself.The movie has many incredible scenes.The speed boat chase is great for those who are hungry for action.The last minutes of this film are most intense.The Goodyear Blimp with a bomb is heading towards the Super Bowl stadium.Most entertaining thriller by Frankenheimer.
