Firepower (film)
Firepower | |
---|---|
Directed by | Michael Winner |
Produced by | Michael Winner & Alex Meakin |
Written by |
Bill Kerby Gerald Wilson Michael Winner |
Starring |
Sophia Loren James Coburn O.J. Simpson Eli Wallach Victor Mature Jake LaMotta |
Music by | Gato Barbieri |
Cinematography | Robert Paynter |
Edited by | Michael Winner |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Associated Film Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Firepower is a 1979 British thriller film directed by Michael Winner and starring Sophia Loren, James Coburn, O.J. Simpson and Eli Wallach.[1] It was the final film in the career of actor Victor Mature.
Synopsis
The FBI hires a former mafia hit man (James Coburn) to track down and bring in a powerful reclusive billionaire suspected of criminal acts for his own benefit. The man also comes into a conflict with a woman (Sophia Loren) tracking down the same crook for revenge reasons.
Cast
- Sophia Loren as Adele Tasca
- James Coburn as Jerry Fanon/Eddie
- O.J. Simpson as Catlett
- Eli Wallach as Sal Hyman
- Anthony Franciosa as Dr. Charles Felix
- George Grizzard as Leo Gelhorn
- Vincent Gardenia as Frank Hull
- Victor Mature as Harold Everett
- Billy Barty as Carbone
- Jake LaMotta as Nickel Sam
- Hank Garrett as Oscar Bailey
- George Touliatos as Karl Stegner
Filming locations
Firepower was filmed in Curaçao, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Brooklyn, New York, Miami, Florida, and Key Largo, Florida. Bridgeport, CT
Production
According to director Michael Winner, producer Lew Grade had fully expected Charles Bronson to co-star with Loren. With much of the pre-production crew already on location in the Caribbean, Grade wanted to shut down the production when Bronson pulled out. Realizing how much money he had already sunk into a film that had not properly secured its star actors, Grade saved face by moving ahead using James Coburn as a replacement for Bronson.[2]
Victor Mature makes a cameo at the request of director Michael Winner, who wanted someone instantly recognisable for the role of the one of the richest people in the world.[3] "I worked for eight hours on one scene," he laughed.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Erickson, Hal. "Firepower". Allmovie. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ↑ Winner, Michael (2004). Winner Takes All. Robson Books. pp. 224–225. ISBN 1-86105-840-3.
- ↑ Whatever Happened to Lady Joan? Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 June 1978: f6.
- ↑ No Lions to Slay at Rancho Santa Fe Tedrick, Dan. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 29 May 1980: sd_a6