Woodyanders Laidback ex-patriot innkeeper Giff Hoyt (a nicely low-key performance by Charles Bronson) runs afoul of nefarious former Nazi Gunther Beckdorff (Jason Robards in fine crusty form) and falls for fetching French femme fatale Marie Claire Allesandri (a charming portrayal by the beauteous Dominique Sanda) while searching for sunken treasure in Peru in 1948.Director J. Lee Thompson, working from a convoluted and involving script by Mort Fine and Milton S. Gelman, relates the complex and compelling story at a steady pace, ably crafts a brooding film noir atmosphere, offers a flavorsome evocation of the exotic setting, stages the action scenes with skill and flair, and sprinkles in a satisfying smattering of pretty naked ladies for extra trashy good measure. The sturdy acting from the excellent cast helps a whole lot: Fernando Rey as suave, yet corrupt police chief Captain Terredo, Simon MacCorkindale as dashing sailor Lewis Clarkson, Camilla Sparv as washed-up booze-sodden floozy Hera, Gilbert Roland as alcoholic weakling Dr. Rudolfo Ramirez, James Booth as ill-fated diver John Baker, and Denny Miller as brutish flunky Hurst. Moreover, this movie deserves extra praise for being more plot and character driven than your average Bronson action opus. Jerry Goldsmith's zesty score hits the stirring and spirited spot. Alex Phillips Jr.'s sumptuous widescreen cinematography makes invigorating use of a constantly mobile camera. A worthwhile picture.

trojans7 A big fan of j lee thompson and charles bronson i found this movie worth a watch. its very layed back and old school like a visit to your folks.its south American local and tropic feel was a real plus and Charley was in in good form.but thompson was slumming it a bit,maybe enjoying the sun to much.the pace was slow even for this sort of film.i think i could of enjoyed it more if the copy i had was any good, but it is poor with only the widescreen formate save it from being unwatchable. it is such a rare movie that i was happy enough to see it at all.if you enjoy 70's style movies and gumshoe movies give it a go its good late night fodder.

lost-in-limbo Director J. Lee Thompson and actor Charles Bronson always made an interesting team, and this particular effort was the last one I needed to see. Compared with most of their collaborations in the 80s, this is a diamond in the rough and quite an off-kilter, old-fashion adventure / mystery story that sets out to be intriguing and creates a nice feel of the times, than anything relying on Bronson handing out nasty punishment. Well on that point, the violence when it does eventuate is surprisingly brutal, if quick and too the point. When it happens, it comes from nowhere. However Bronson is given a chance to spread his wings, and act with confidence and stalwart appeal. It's a terrifically surly, down-played performance by Chuck in a suitable heroine role. Working off Bronson is a tremendously solid cast. Jason Robards' is subtly powerful in a fine turn and Fernando Rey's sly style always amuses. Dominique Sanda displays a potently classy presence. The support cast rounding it off are just as good with Simon Mac Corkindale, Dennis Millar, Clifton James and Camilla Sparv.Looming from the presentation is a film-noir tone, and I don't really get the 'Casablanca' references (from it being a rip-off to an unfunny spoof) made about it. There's no denying it's rather talky though, but the script is involving and smartly weaved together. This works due to the screenplay having a busy (if muddled) plot and still keeping a breezy (almost brooding) air to it. Some contrived, and convenient actions occur, and the drama can seem a little uncertain. But it never becomes a worry. Also how they used the breathtakingly erotic Mexican backdrop in the action was accordingly staged and well-framed. Talk about nice sight seeing. The swirling, wide-screen camera-work had that ability to capture that organic sense of place, although the underwater shots came off terribly murky. Thompson's direction is undoubtedly workman-like, slow and effective on a much larger scale, despite the dreary look to its visual styling. Jerry Goldsmith's rousing melancholic score is picture-perfect. Everything boils up to an thrilling climax, as the calmness makes way for a stormy (literally) confrontations of two men, who share something in common, but how they go about things are entirely different. They have a past they like to forget, and this is their chance for that to happen and put away that lingering fear of something catching up.One of Bronson's interestingly obscure oddities, which unjustly flopped and deserves an audience.p.s I would love to see a good DVD print of this film, because the grainy VHS copy I rented doesn't do it any justice.

kate2000 I gave this film an extra two points for the location alone.The gorgeous coastal town used in Caboblanco was in fact once a favorite retreat of members of a corrupt Mexican regime. The deluxe hilltop mansion, the thatched hotel-bar that Bronson's character runs, palapas lined up at the water's edge, a bare-bones, dingy police office, and so forth: you can't ask for a more convincing backdrop for this tale of international skullduggery.Caboblanco also gets points for Bronson's spot-on portrayal of an ex-pate living in Mexico because he probably can't go home, the complex and riveting performance by Fernando Rey, and for filling out the cast with several supporting players in a non-linear presentation. There is a denouement at the end, but the film's mood and pacing are not obvious in working to that conclusion. In other words, Caboblanco succeeds in making a viewer feel he/she is eavesdropping on lives in progress.Admittedly, this is a piece of entertainment, but it strives for something more, and it is NOT an imitation of Casablanca, by a long shot.My one complaint is that the great Gilbert Roland was not used to more advantage.