Fear Is the Key (1972)

Following the death of his family in an aeroplane crash, a man plots an elaborate revenge scheme on those responsible. By setting himself up as a criminal, he plans to get close to a ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Tuchner

Writers:

Alistair MacLean (novel), Robert Carrington (screenplay)

Stars:

Barry Newman, Suzy Kendall, John Vernon

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barry Newman	...	John Talbot
Suzy Kendall	...	Sarah Ruthven
John Vernon	...	Vyland
Dolph Sweet	...	Jablonsky
Ben Kingsley	...	Royale
Ray McAnally	...	Ruthven
Peter Marinker	...	Larry
Elliott Sullivan	...	Judge Mollison
Roland Brand	...	Deputy
Tony Anholt	...	FBI Man

Storyline

Following the death of his family in an aeroplane crash, a man plots an elaborate revenge scheme on those responsible. By setting himself up as a criminal, he plans to get close to a certain tycoon who has been approached by the culprits to help them retrieve the cargo of the lost plane.

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | oil rig | louisiana | speed | police | 

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Taglines:

In the right hands, fear is the deadliest weapon of all.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

O Medo é a Chave

Box Office

Gross:

SEK 4,111,251 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anglo-EMI, KLK

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After appearing in this movie, actor Ben Kingsley did not appear in cinema movies until Gandhi where he won the Best Actor Academy Award (Oscar). In between these two films, Kingsley worked in television.

User Reviews

Unpredictable to the very end.

Fine actioner based on Alistair MacLane's novel holds a few surprises for those lucky enough to catch this underrated gem. An unorthodox and at times bitty script is held together by an amiable cast including a young Ben Kingsley (debuting with a full head of hair) surprisingly in his only film before his Oscar winning performance of 'Ghandi' ten years later.

The screenplay is a crafty one, with Barry Newman ploughing through the first half of the film seemingly out of control and playing a role hauntingly similar to his one in 'Vanishing Point' keeping the viewer guessing what's going to happen next and why. After a slightly boggy, espionage filled middle act the film coolly builds to a dramatic nail-biting finale and it is only here in the film's dying moments do you actually discover the truth. Though the ending may not quite reach some viewers expectations, it does wrap things up succinctly, making the thrills on the way (including a fine car chase that bursts from a courthouse breakout) all the more worthwhile.