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 | Vienna Austria | Running | Cold War | Cynicism

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: You're beautiful Jean, but sometimes you have the bad breath of priests.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The She-Creature (#9.8)" (1997)

The best Spy-Film

The thing about spys and espionage is that there is a difference >between good guys and bad guys. Burt Lancaster portrays aging C.I.A agent Cross who wants to leave the C.I.A to spend more time with his wife (Joanne Linville). However he has been training another mentor Jean code name "Scorpio"(Alain Delon) who is just been learning the tricks of the trade as a C.I.A assasin. C.I.A boss (John Colicos) feels that Cross knows too much and that he should be killed. He soons asks Scorpio to do the job, but he refuses. Scorpio is later arrested on phony narcotics rap and is blackmailed to do the job of eliminating Cross, so he accepts it. Cross however catches on that he is being by the watched C.I.A and the game of cat and mouse between him and Scorpio begins. He later takes refuge in with on old colleague (Paul Scofield) in Venice. Yet the question remains. Who is doublecrossing who? Who will survive the game? Who is good and who is bad? This a great film. Burt Lancaster was 59 years old and he had the ability to perform his running scenes as he is being pursued by Delon and another C.I.A hitman. He is proven to be a good actor who attributed the physical-athletic attributes in the film. Alain Delon gives a marvelous performance the man forced to hunt down and kill Lancaster. I give this film 10 out of 10**********.