Trenchcoat (1983)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Michael Tuchner

Writers:

Jeffrey Price (writer)
Peter S. Seaman (writer)

Release Date:

11 March 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

An aspiring mystery writer becomes accidently embroiled in an international plot during a two-week stay in Malta. |

Plot Keywords:

Malta | Kids And Family

Cast

Margot Kidder	...	Mickey Raymond
Robert Hays	...	Terry Leonard
Gila von Weitershausen	...	Eva Werner
Daniel Faraldo	...	Nino Tenucci
Ronald Lacey	...	Princess Aida
John Justin	...	Marquis De Pena
Pauline Delaney	...	Lizzy O'Reilly (as Pauline Delany)
P.G. Stephens	...	Sean O'Reilly
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Esteban Ortega
Brizio Montinaro	...	Cpl. Lascaris
Martin Sorrentino	...	Afro-Dite
Luciano Crovato	...	Taxi Driver
Massimo Sarchielli	...	Boss Arab
Jennifer Darling	...	Laurie
Kevork Malikyan	...	Arab
Vic Tablian	...	Achmed
Brian Coburn	...	Burly Salt
Fifi Moyer	...	Mother
Marcello Krakoff	...	Children
Philip Alexander	...	Children
Brian Eubanks	...	Children
Saviour Tanti	...	Passport Agent / Officer
Nadine Azzopardi	...	Stewardess
Emanuel Abela	...	Man at Museum Post Card Rack
Charles Saliba	...	Bartender
Benny Farrugia	...	Bartender
Margaret von Brockdorff	...	Nun
Ruth Borthwick	...	Nun
Freda Camilleri	...	Nun
Lilly Harding	...	Nun
Narcy Calamatta	...	Tour Guide
Anthony Spiteri	...	Bald Man
Joe Quattromani	...	Man in Fez
Eddie Baldacchino	...	Wheelman at Dragonara Casino
Joe Coppini	...	Fish Monger
Harry Jones	...	Man with Duffle Bag
Michael Kissaun	...	Backstage Man
Charles Darmanin	...	Museum Guard
Joe Abela	...	Museum Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Suchet	...	Inspector Stagnos

Directed by
Michael Tuchner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jeffrey Price		writer
Peter S. Seaman		writer

Produced by
Jerry Leider	....	producer

Original Music by
Charles Fox

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli

Film Editing by
Frank J. Urioste

Casting by
Pam Polifroni

Production Design by
John B. Mansbridge
Rodger Maus

Art Direction by
John B. Mansbridge

Costume Design by
Gloria Musetta

Makeup Department
Mario Michisanti	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Wayne Allwine	....	sound editor
Nick Alphin	....	sound re-recording mixer
George Fredrick	....	sound editor
Robert Hathaway	....	sound supervisor
David M. Horton	....	sound editor (as David Horton)
Al Maguire	....	adr editor
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
George Probert	....	sound editor
Frank Regula	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roger Sword	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Mario Cassar	....	special effects foreman: Malta

Stunts
Christian Bonnichon	....	stunts
Jean-Claude Bonnichon	....	stunts (as J.C. Bonnichon)
Dominique Julienne	....	stunts
Michel Julienne	....	stunts
Rémy Julienne	....	stunt coordinator (as Remy Julienne)
Brigitte Magnin	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sandro Battaglia	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Alec Smight	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer

Other crew
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Rachel Griffiths	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Malta

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

The final film of John Justin.

Quotes:

Mickey Raymond: [mocking Terry Leonard] It embarrases me when people give me special treatment for what I do.

TRENCHCOAT (Michael Tuchner, 1983) *1/ 2

The only reason I decided to check this one out was because it’s set in Malta; the result, however, was an exceedingly feeble comedy-thriller from, of all people, the Disney stable and, needless to say, a long way behind Hitchcock.

Incidentally, this was the film which forced the studio to open a parallel label – Touchstone – so that they could make more adult-oriented fare: its few moments of violence and the appearance of a man in drag, presumably, were the offending elements in this regard! The title is the typical outfit worn by the detective hero of 1940s film noirs: here, it’s incongruously donned by the irritating would-be thriller novelist Margot Kidder(!) – while the boyish-looking Robert Hays is the typical undercover agent (whose mission is to catch a ring of plutonium-traffickers). I can’t say the script-writers/film-makers were particularly inspired by the Maltese locations – so much so that it could have been set practically anywhere else to much the same dismal effect (it’s simply not thrilling and certainly not funny)!

Most of the other characters are seen either aiding or harassing the two leads – sometimes they seem to be doing one when their intention is actually the opposite; these include clumsy assassin Leopoldo Trieste, laid-back police chief David Suchet (TV’s future Hercule Poirot!), a couple of sweet old lodgers at Kidder’s hotel, a German mystery woman, and a Sicilian stud. A notable appearance is put in by John Justin (yes, the hero of the classic Michael Powell/Alexander Korda THE THIEF OF BAGDAD [1940] in what amounted to his last feature-film role!) as the long-suffering aristocratic owner of the hotel, whose place is turned upside-down by the end of the film. By the way, I only spotted two Maltese actors of stature in bit roles – one played a guide at a museum, and the other a fishmonger who helped Kidder evade her pursuers in one scene.

For what it’s worth, the identity of the villains is ingenious (if not exactly original); in the end, though, in spite of a number of chases, the film is never as engaging (or enjoyable) as it should have been…and only manages to give a bad name to the genre it’s playing at, not to mention the people and country involved!