Firepower ** (1979, Sophia Loren, James Coburn, Eli Wallach, Anthony Franciosa, O J Simpson, George Grizzard, Vincent Gardenia, Victor Mature) – Classic Movie Review 9114

Michael Winner throws all the star power he can muster into his complicated 1979 revenge action thriller Firepower, with lots of jet-setting, crashes and explosions. Sophia Loren stars as vengeful Adele Tasca, who is trying to track down the reclusive powerful billionaire criminal Carl Stegner (George Touliatos), also sought by the FBI and their hired man Jerry Fanon (James Coburn, replacing Charles Bronson).

Firepower is fairly daft but entirely watchable. Sophia Loren looks lovely in gowns by Per Spook of Paris and the Caribbean locations look beautiful too. It was filmed in Technicolor on location in St Lucia, Curacao and Antigua in the Caribbean, and in the US. Winner directs brashly, as usual. It also memorable for starring a good value ensemble cast in Eli Wallach, Anthony Franciosa, O J Simpson, George Grizzard, Vincent Gardenia, and Victor Mature.

Also in the cast are Fred Stuthman, Richard Caldicot, Frank Singuineau, Jake LaMotta, J C Quinn, George Touliatos, Andrew Duncan, Hank Garrett, Conrad Roberts, Dominic Chianese and Billy Barty.

Firepower is directed by Michael Winner, runs 104 minutes, is made by ITC Films and Scimitar Productions, is released by ITC Film Distributors (1979) (UK) and Associated Film Distribution (1979) (US), is written by Gerald Wilson, based on a story by Bill Kerby and Michael Winner, is shot in Technicolor by Robert Paynter, Dick Kratina (cinematographer: USA) and Richard H Kline (director of photography: second unit), is produced by Lew Grade and Michael Winner, is scored by Gato Barbieri, and is designed by John Stoll, John Blezard (Production Designers) and Robert Gundlach (Art Direction).

Tasca means Pocket in Italian.

Screenwriter Gerald Wilson also wrote The Stone Killer (1973), which starred Charles Bronson, who was originally cast to star in this movie. One rumour said Bronson turned it down because the producers had refused to write in a role for his wife, Jill Ireland. Another rumour said Bronson refused to play with a bigger star than him, while Loren refused to play with an inferior. The movie was originally written as a sequel to Dirty Harry (1971).

The film was released in the UK uncut as ‘AA’ but re-released as an ‘A’ with cuts to bloodier shootings, men on fire shots, a wire strangling and a topless woman shot. The 1986 video was a 15 certificate, uncut apart from 15 seconds from a cockfighting scene.

Winner sought Victor Mature for a star cameo as someone instantly recognisable to play the one of the richest people in the world (Harold Everett). ‘I worked for eight hours on one scene,’ Mature recalled. It is his final theatrical movie. He was also in Winner’s Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976).

Winner says in his biography that O J Simpson remained his close friend all over the years.

Dominic Chianese recalled that Winner constantly screamed at the actors, actresses and extras on-set.

Jake LaMotta was soon to be portrayed by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull (1980).

Simpson and Loren also starred in The Cassandra Crossing (1976).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9114

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