St Ives *** (1976, Charles Bronson, Jacqueline Bisset, John Houseman, Harry Guardino, Maximilian Schell, Harris Yulin, Dana Elcar, Elisha Cook Jr) – Classic Movie Review 6782

Director J Lee Thompson’s 1976 mystery thriller stars Charles Bronson as ex-crime reporter and now thriller novel writer Raymond ‘Ray’ St Ives, who is drawn into a series of murders by scheming Abner Procane (John Houseman) and femme fatale Janet Whistler (Jacqueline Bisset). Procane is a much-put-out Los Angeles burglar who hires St Ives to negotiate the return of the stolen plans for his next heist.

It is one of umpteen routine but popular thrillers Bronson has made with director Thompson (Cape Fear, The Guns of Navarone) and it is well above par for the course because of a decent pulpy tale from source novel is by Ross Thomas (writing as Oliver Bleeck), fine Technicolor cinematography by Lucien Ballard, a stirring score by Lalo Schifrin, an understated and believable performance by Bronson, and the sterling work of an astonishing support cast.

Also in the vintage cast are Harry Guardino, Maximilian Schell, Harris Yulin, Dana Elcar, Elisha Cook Jr, Jeff Goldblum, Robert Englund, Michael Lerner, Daniel J Travanti, George Memmoli, Dick O’Neill, Dar Robinson, Val Bisoglio, Burr DeBenning, Tom Pedi, Joe Roman, Norman Palmer and Walter Brooke.

Wow, there are some good people at work on this movie on both sides of the camera! They bring a real touch of class and that does lift its level noticeably.

St Ives is directed by J Lee Thompson, runs 93 minutes, is released by Warner Bros, is written by Barry Beckerman, from the novel by Ross Thomas (writing as Oliver Bleeck) is shot in Technicolor by Lucien Ballard, is produced by Pancho Kohner and Stanley S Canter, is scored by Lalo Schifrin, and is designed by Philip M Jefferies.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6782

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