Scorpio (1973)

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

David W. Rintels (screenplay) and
Gerald Wilson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 April 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When Scorpio wants you... there is no place to hide!

Plot:

Cross is an old hand at the CIA, in charge of assassinating high-ranking foreign personalities who are an obstacle to the policies of the USA...

Plot Keywords:

CIA | Cold War | Cynicism | Spy | Foot Pursuit

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Cross
Alain Delon	...	Jean Laurier, a.k.a. Scorpio
Paul Scofield	...	Zharkov
John Colicos	...	McLeod
Gayle Hunnicutt	...	Susan
J.D. Cannon	...	Filchock
Joanne Linville	...	Sarah
Mel Stewart	...	Pick (as Melvin Stewart)
Vladek Sheybal	...	Zemetkin
Mary Maude	...	Anne
Jack Colvin	...	Thief
James Sikking	...	Harris
Burke Byrnes	...	Morrison
William Smithers	...	Mitchell
Shmuel Rodensky	...	Lang

Runtime:

114 min | Germany:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Burt Lancaster, who was a circus acrobat, performed his stunts in the film during the chase scene.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the alley just prior to the rear-ending of the tail car the tail says "I can't see him, he must have got out and run" yet Cross' car's brake lights are clearly on, meaning somebody is in the car with their foot on the brake pedal.

Quotes:

Cross: There's a room just down the hall from McLeod's office where grown men play a game. It's a bit like Monopoly, only more people get hurt. There's no good and no bad. The object is not to win, but not to lose -- and the only rule is to stay in the game.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Seijû gakuen (1974)

Stinging spy thriller

Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon are the star cast of this archetypal seventies spy film where, as the final line goes, "the only rule is to stay in the game". A taciturn Lancaster is Cross, a veteran CIA agent who comes under suspicion of double play by the young wisecracks who run the shop. Cross's hit-man Jean Laurier aka Scorpio, a French mercenary played by Alain Delon, is hired by top officer McLeod to get rid of the old man but something tells him there's more to it and he decides to wait. Soon, Cross knows the time on his watch and is on the run, seeking refuge in Vienna with his KGB counterpart and buddy Sergei Zharkov (Paul Scofield in a posture reminiscent of Fernando Rey in French Connection) while trying to reunite with his wife (Joanne Linville) and quit the game. Though not convinced of Cross's alleged defection, Scorpio finally agrees to go after him. Ensues a twisted tale of foul play, double entendre and grim realpolitik. Though not an unforgettable classic nor, by any means, an extravaganza, and despite obvious flaws – among which the sketchy synchronising, some phony dialogue and the occasional action blunder – Scorpio is a highly entertaining and at all times suspenseful flick, which hardly ever loses pace and offers a great platform for a no-nonsense performance by the bulky Lancaster and the sly Delon. Unlike Costa Gavras, director Michael Winner clearly chooses story intrigue over naturalism or verisimilitude, and turns in a solid thriller with overall likable types. Certainly, there is no moral authority here, and not even so much as true friendship or love – he who trusts will get stung.