Breaking Point (1976)

The Mafia tries to take revenge against a man who testified against them in court.

Director:

Bob Clark

Writers:

Stanley Mann, Roger Swaybill (screenplay),

Stars:

Bo Svenson, Robert Culp, John Colicos

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bo Svenson	...	Michael McBain
Robert Culp	...	Frank Sirrianni
John Colicos	...	Vincent Karbone
Belinda Montgomery	...	Diana McBain
Linda Sorensen	...	Helen McBain
Stephen Young	...	Peter Stratas
Jeff Lynas	...	Andy Stratas (as Jeffrey Lynas)
Gerry Salsberg	...	Vigorito
Richard M. Davidson	...	Hirsch
Dwayne McLean	...	Petrucci
Doug Lennox	...	Damoni
Jim Hunter	...	Gilligan
John 'Bud' Cardos	...	Fleming
Alan McRae	...	Ted Buchanan
Joanna Noyes	...	Sarah Kelly

Storyline

Vincent Karbone is a leading construction magnate in Philadelphia and a suspected leader of one of the city's most notorious criminal gangs. Several of his thugs are on trial, and the key witness is Michael, a mild-mannered judo instructor with a wife and kids. Karbone will stop at nothing to keep the muscles of his organization out of prison, including striking at Michael's family to keep him from testifying.

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | vigilante | 1970s | teacher | witness protection program | 

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Taglines:

There's nothing more deadly than a gentle man pushed too far

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Explosión de violencia

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 1,100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Astral Bellevue Pathé, Breaking Point, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Bo Svenson's character is showing his prowess with a .357 Magnum, one of his shots is a bullseye, yet when they bring the target up to review it there isn't any shot through the bullseye.

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Connections

References The Addams Family (1964)

User Reviews

Points that break

Breaking Point: Bob Clark's lost vigilante epic finally gets a shameful full frame release from the ornery bastards at Fox, most likely in an attempt to cash in on the man's fatal car wreck. Bo Svenson, a full and lanky vertical 7'8", is taking his stepson home from an intense sports game when he sees two gangsters beating a poor man right outside his home. He interferes like a true neighbor would, bludgeoning the attackers with his gargantuan fists. Predictably, after the Bo's testimony, the mob sends out torpedoes to rub him out in some truly baffling hit-man reasoning and logic like throwing a Molotov cocktail at a man standing right next to a river. There's nothing here that distinguishes itself from any other Death Wish clone or Walking Tall entry, with minuscule action scenes peppered throughout the final third. If you're lucky enough to stay awake that long, you'll be treated to a magnum facial, a 2x4 used as a spear and Svenson flipping a house over a cliff. Robert Culp plays a weary police officer that's half Boggs and half, well, nothing. Love the music credit which actually lists a computer for the synthetic score!