The Formula ** (1980, George C Scott, Marlon Brando, Marthe Keller, John Gielgud) – Classic Movie Review 7212

The Formula (1980) is at best formula film-making from John G Avildsen, the director of Rocky and The Karate Kid, who objected to the MGM studio’s release cut of the picture and unsuccessfully tried to have his name removed from the credits. Brando claimed the film was ruined in the editing room. But, along with the studio tinkering, writer-producer Steve Shagan, who adapts his own novel, must bear much of the blame for the multiple weaknesses of this film.

As released, it is a muddled, murky and mostly run-of-the-mill, occasionally bizarre thriller about a cop Barney Caine (George C Scott), who is hunting for a buddy’s killer and discovers the murder hinges on oil tycoon Adam Steiffel (Marlon Brando), aged Chairman of the Titan Oil Company, and a secret fuel formula invented by Nazis in World War Two to make petrol from synthetic stuff.

You expect a lot more from a film with Brando, Scott, John Gielgud (as Dr Esau) and Marthe Keller (as Lisa), who turn in weird but watchable performances. The movie itself is also watchable but it is quite a poor effort, and understandably a four-time Razzie nominee – for Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actor (Brando), Worst Director (Avildsen) and Worst Screenplay (Shagan). Brando also figured as a double nominee at the The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards for Worst Supporting Actor and Most Annoying Fake Accent: Male.

However, let’s look on the bright side, James Crabe was Oscar nominated for Best Cinematography, so there is something good about it.

Brando worked worked for 11 days and was paid nearly $3 million but was in only three scenes – a million dollars a scene – but he still memorably, mesmerisingly bad, as the Razzie and Stinkers nominations imply. Marlon Brando shares with Laurence Olivier the label of ‘greatest movie actor of all time’, but both actors were going through a period of terrible decline at this time. Brando did not use his usual prompt boards but instead used the hearing aid that is part of his costume, with his dialogue prompted by an assistant directly to his ear. After this, Brando retired for almost a decade, re-appearing for a cameo in A Dry White Season (1989) and a main role in The Freshman (1990).

The ‘also starring’ John Gielgud has only one scene.

Avildsen worked with writer-producer Steve Shagan more profitably on Save the Tiger and W W and the Dixie Dancekings (1975).

John G Avildsen, the Oscar-winning director of Rocky, died at 81 on 16 June 2017.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7212

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