thinker1691 Steve Shagan wrote this novel long before the film emerged and became a prophetic warning to the world. After reading the story, I concluded the book is much more informative and a hell of a lot more more interesting. Still, the power of George C. Scott makes for a good understanding of the world's fuel problems and the greedy men who neatly arrange for it's sale and distribution. John G. Avidsen directed this film and although he used the star power of Marlon Brando to attract a large audience, he fail to capitalized on the combination of his leading men. The story as found in the novel begins with the murder of a retired LAPD police officer and assigned to Lt. Barney Caine (George C. Scott). Although evidence suggests the dead Officer died from Cocaine, Caine suspects it was blatant murder. With a gut feeling and growing suspicion of multiple involvement by others, Caine travels to Europe to learn who was behind the killings in America. This eventually leads to Adam Steiffel (Marlon Brando) a very rich and powerful Oil Executive based in the US who explains where and how the world works. A Plethora of Hollywood stars including John Gielgud, Marshall Thompson and Wolfgang Preiss, makes for a solid movie, but one wonders why Brando is only given minimal screen exposure. Still, with name recognition alone this will become a Classic George C. Scott milestone. ****

skullislandsurferdotcom There are decent moments as George C. Scott investigates the death of his cop friend, who was involved with a "formula" that has to do with… well that's revealed in the second half of the film, which gets weighed down by too many conversations with characters being killed off right after revealing the secrets that carry Scott from one person to the next.The main problem is the lack of situations between the dialog – more chatter than the necessary suspense which would make our protagonist seem in real danger. Marlon Brando plays a stateside oil tycoon, and while it's fun watching him on screen – as he continuously purses his lips and revels in a shady persona – he's doing an obvious performance.Once in Germany, where Scott becomes drenched in a Nazi secret (teased in the prologue with Richard Lynch), he meets a brooding, sexy Martha Keller, perhaps the most fleshed-out character. But fans of Film Noir will see her deception way before love-struck Scott does.Director John G. Advilsen strays from his colorfully creative styling of JOE and SAVE THE TIGER, and his latter, more popular flicks like ROCKY and THE KARATE KID that make you want to win at all costs. This lacked either color or stamina, and leads to a dull conclusion where all those conversations, some of which are genuinely intriguing, seem a waste of time.For More Reviews: http://cultfilmfreakreviews.blogspot.com

Reginald D. Garrard What happened? The film had all the earmarks for success: two of the generation's greatest actors (Scott and Brando); a subject that is topical, even to this day; an international co-star that had made an impressive appearance years earlier in another political thriller, the film adaptation of Thomas Harris's "Black Sunday; and a director that had been responsible for two critically praised films ("Rocky" and "Save the Tiger").Unfortunately the screenplay, penned by novel author Steve Shagan, just fell as flat as filling one's gas tank with water: no get up and go. There were no thrills in what should have had many; there were no chills, in what should have had more action. Even the two stars seems as though they were just drawing a paycheck, and possibly a free trip to Europe, where most of the film was made.Even Bill Conti, who had written one of movie's most memorable melodies ("The Theme from 'Rocky'"), composed a score that was as exciting as listening to radio static.The film's sole saving grace is the appearance of perennial heavy Richard Lynch as a former Nazi general with information about the sought-after formula.Sadly, the movie just doesn't click with this viewer.

densden This is an excellent, thought provoking plot which could, with a little imagination, be closer to the truth today than when filmed 26 years ago. Delivered by two actors among other greats, Marlon Brando and George C.Scott weave a convoluted story line which centers around a formula to make oil an obsolete fuel. Jump to present day with Exxon/Mobile posting record profits of $8.4 billion the first quarter of 2006 against a back drop of record profits in 2005, Brando's comment about, "We Are The Arabs", becomes even more poignant as gas prices continue to climb over $3.00 per gallon. It makes one wonder, particularly since the known fact that our present leader and his father have been in bed with the Arabs the last 15 years or longer and the VP, an old oil man himself, "We are the Arabs", indeed! Another movie that broaches oil greed is "Local Hero" with Burt Lancaster playing the part of CEO Armand Hammer and his quest for acquisition of land on the northern edge of Scotland and his description of the Scottish people as "blue eyed Arabs". Since the days of John D Rockefeller, oil has, for all practical purposes, ruled the world. How ironic that we are now at war with a country with the world's 2nd largest oil reserves and our leader was the one pulling the trigger.