Sorcerer (1977)

A group of outcasts from different backgrounds/nationalities are forced by misfortune to work in a remote oil drilling operation in South America. When fire breaks out of control, four of ... See full summary »

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Walon Green (screenplay), Georges Arnaud (novel)

Stars:

Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roy Scheider	...	Jackie Scanlon - 'Juan Dominguez'
Bruno Cremer	...	Victor Manzon - 'Serrano'
Francisco Rabal	...	Nilo
Amidou	...	Kassem - 'Martinez'
Ramon Bieri	...	Corlette
Peter Capell	...	Lartigue
Karl John	...	'Marquez'
Friedrich von Ledebur	...	'Carlos' (as Fredrick Ledebur)
Chico Martínez	...	Bobby Del Rios (as Chico Martinez)
Joe Spinell	...	Spider
Rosario Almontes	...	Agrippa
Richard Holley	...	Billy White
Anne-Marie Deschodt	...	Blanche (as Anne Marie Descott)
Jean-Luc Bideau	...	Pascal
Jacques François	...	Lefevre (as Jacques Francois)

Storyline

A group of outcasts from different backgrounds/nationalities are forced by misfortune to work in a remote oil drilling operation in South America. When fire breaks out of control, four of the outcasts are given the opportunity to earn enough money to get out by transporting six crates of unstable dynamite through miles of jungle in two ancient trucks. Will they succeed and regain their honor and citizenship, or get blown up for their efforts?

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Plot Keywords:

truck | jungle | fire | dynamite | terrorism | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French German

Release Date:

24 June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wages of Fear

Filming Locations:

Angel Peak National Recreation Area, Bloomfield, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Properties International N.V., Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The rather odd watch worn by the demolitions man who demonstrates the danger of stale dynamite is a Bulova Accuquartz "Big Block" LED watch. Forerunners of contemporary digital timekeeping, the numerals were displayed as luminescent red figures.

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Goofs

One of the soldiers killed by Nilo is seen breathing and moving after dead.

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Quotes

Carlo Ricci: He robbed my church, shot my brother. I don't care where he is or what it costs. I want his ass.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the film as the last of the end credits scroll up, the music fades away and is replaced by the sound of an idling truck.

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Connections

Referenced in Il solitario (2008)

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Soundtracks

"I'll Remember April"
Performed by Charlie Parker
Courtesy Verve Records

User Reviews

In Many Ways, Superior to Wages of Fear

Friedkin's unacknowledged masterpiece is clearly superior in the 1st and 2nd acts as he gives superb backdrops into the individual stories of the main protagonists. When we see them in the 2nd act, amidst the grit and grime of a backwater Latin American nation, we understand the desperation that would have led them to such a place.

The seering reality of the depravity they now live in was much more effective in Friedkin's movie. You don't expect to see a gorgeous hooker in this environment, unlike the unrealistic Wages of Fear. Oddly enough, Wages of Fear is actually much more Holly-wood like in its storytelling than Sorcerer.

Mind you, I do like Wages of Fear and actually thought it was a great movie, but I have to revise my opinion after seeing a movie that actually does it right.

Congrats, Friedkin.