Runtime: 96 minutes
Directed by: Tom Gries
Starring: Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Randy Quaid, Robert Duvall, John Huston
From: Columbia
If you ever wanted to see Randy Quaid in drag... I mention that to express the tone of this movie. Randy dressed as a woman is done in one scene as part of a failed scheme to break Robert Duvall out of prison; not only is the movie lighter in tone than the typical Charles Bronson picture, Bronson is jovial to the point that he smiles a few times. This is a movie I could have watched at any time over the past several years plus but it being available for free to me as a Prime member gave me that final push-as I pay for Prime each month and don't always order a package from Amazon each month...
It's a simple tale: John Huston (whose role is a glorified cameo) schemes to have his grandsom Duvall jailed as otherwise Duvall is a threat to expose his illegal acts. His wife Jill Ireland hires bush pilot Bronson to do the title act. Of course there are complications, such as our heroes not knowing Huston's role in the affair. There are some other familiar faces seen along the way, such as a young Quaid long before he lost his mind, Sheree North, Emilio Fernandez, and Alejandro Rey. A famous face not on camera was the score from Jerry Goldsmith, which wasn't one of his must-listens yet still was pleasant to hear & fit the setting.
Even with a few “hey, wait a minute” moments and a few bits that haven't aged too well (such as some racist terms I won't repeat here or what Duvall does in one scene to show his mental deterioration) overall this was a pretty good time and a fun way to spend 96 minutes. Much of the action is reserved for the final act but at least that delivered; there's even a shocking moment at the end which actually made me hit rewind to see it again. And would you believe this is loosely based on a true story? The story of Joel David Kaplan is one hell of a tale, something far too complex to explain in full here. He was an American businessman jailed in Mexico on alleged trumped-up charges and a helicopter was used for the breakout. No wonder someone had the idea to use the bare bones of that wild true life tale & modify it into a Hollywood production starring familiar faces.
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