Universal Soldier ** (1972, George Lazenby, Edward Judd, Benito Carruthers, Germaine Greer, Rudolph Walker) – Classic Movie Review 9119

Director Cy Endfield’s 1972 war action drama Universal Soldier stars ex-Bond George Lazenby as mercenary Ryker, a gun for hire back in London with a view to a kill. Feminist Germaine Greer plays a feminist called Clara Bowden who tries to reform him, but Mbote (Rudolph Walker), the exiled African leader Ryker is working for chases after him.

Universal Soldier is an interesting attempt at a thoughtful and intelligent British thriller, taken from a story by Joseph Massot and Derek Marlowe.

Director Endfield plays a landlord called Derek Bowden. Endfield and Lazenby are two of the credited writers, along with Kevin Duggan and Kenneth Fueurman.

Though he wrote and started on Zulu Dawn (1979), this one proved Endfield’s last movie: he died in 1995, aged 80.

Also in the cast are Edward Judd, Ben [Benito] Carruthers, Rudolph Walker, Alan Barnes, Guy Deghy, and Ronan O’Rahilly.

Universal Soldier is directed by Cy Endfield, runs 96 minutes, is made by Appaloosa and Ionian, is released by Hemdale, is written by Cy Endfield, Kevin Duggan, Kenneth Feuerman and George Lazenby, based on a story by Joseph [Joe] Massot and Derek Marlowe, is shot by Tony Imi, is produced by Frank J Schwarz and Donald L Factor, and is scored by Philip Goodhand Tait.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9119

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