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Caravan to Vaccares

  • 19741974
  • PGPG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
4.5/10
371
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
Neil Bowman is traveling through France when he meets British photographer Lila. They are hired by French land owner Duc de Croyter to escort a Hungarian scientist to New York. But they soon realize that the job is not a cushy number, and have to deal with a gang of kidnappers who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the scientist.
Play trailer2:32
1 Video
25 Photos
  • Action
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
American Neil Bowman is traveling through France when he meets British photographer Lila. They are hired by French land owner Duc de Croyter to escort a Hungarian scientist to New York. But ... Read allAmerican Neil Bowman is traveling through France when he meets British photographer Lila. They are hired by French land owner Duc de Croyter to escort a Hungarian scientist to New York. But they soon realize that the job is not a cushy number, and have to deal with a gang of kidn... Read allAmerican Neil Bowman is traveling through France when he meets British photographer Lila. They are hired by French land owner Duc de Croyter to escort a Hungarian scientist to New York. But they soon realize that the job is not a cushy number, and have to deal with a gang of kidnappers who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the scientist.
IMDb RATING
4.5/10
371
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Geoffrey Reeve
  • Writers
    • Alistair MacLean(novel)
    • Paul Wheeler(screenplay)
    • Joseph Forest(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • David Birney
    • Charlotte Rampling
    • Michael Lonsdale
Top credits
  • Director
    • Geoffrey Reeve
  • Writers
    • Alistair MacLean(novel)
    • Paul Wheeler(screenplay)
    • Joseph Forest(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • David Birney
    • Charlotte Rampling
    • Michael Lonsdale
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Trailer

    Photos25

    Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Serge Marquand in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    David Birney in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Charlotte Rampling in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Charlotte Rampling in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Serge Marquand in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Michael Lonsdale in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Charlotte Rampling and Jean-Pierre Castaldi in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    David Birney and Serge Marquand in Caravan to Vaccares (1974)
    Caravan to Vaccares (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Birney
    David Birney
    • Bowmanas Bowman
    Charlotte Rampling
    Charlotte Rampling
    • Lilaas Lila
    Michael Lonsdale
    Michael Lonsdale
    • Duc de Croyteras Duc de Croyter
    Marcel Bozzuffi
    Marcel Bozzuffi
    • Czerdaas Czerda
    Michael Bryant
    Michael Bryant
    • Zugeras Zuger
    Serge Marquand
    • Ferencas Ferenc
    Marianne Eggerickx
    • Cecileas Cecile
    Françoise Brion
    Françoise Brion
    • Stellaas Stella
    Vania Vilers
    Vania Vilers
    • Vaniaas Vania
    Manitas De Plata
    • Ricardoas Ricardo
    Jean-Pierre Cargol
    • Julesas Jules
    Jean-Pierre Castaldi
    Jean-Pierre Castaldi
    • Pierreas Pierre
    Jean Michaux
    • Waiteras Waiter
    Alan Scott
    Alan Scott
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    Jean-Yves Gautier
    Jean-Yves Gautier
    • Gendarmeas Gendarme
    • (as Jean-Yves Gauthier)
    Marcella Markham
    • American guestas American guest
    Gordon Tanner
    Gordon Tanner
    • American guestas American guest
    Graham Hill
    • Helicopter pilotas Helicopter pilot
    • Director
      • Geoffrey Reeve
    • Writers
      • Alistair MacLean(novel)
      • Paul Wheeler(screenplay)
      • Joseph Forest(adaptation)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First theatrical feature film of actor David Birney.
    • Goofs
      In the opening scene, the assassin kills the bird watcher sitting in his car with a suppressed revolver. Next, he stalks and shoots his young cohort, but this time with a suppressed automatic pistol. When the automatic fires, it produces an unsuppressed gunshot sound. Next, when the assassin is stopped helping the gypsies with their flat tire, he's carrying the silenced revolver tucked in the front of his pants.
    • Alternate versions
      There are two known version of this film. The international cut is 98 minutes and a heavily cut US version is 84 minutes.
    • Soundtracks
      Rhumba
      (uncredited)

      Music by Manitas De Plata

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    A few recommendable moments but overall, pass the Nyquil
    Charlotte Rampling must have been so bored with her character in this production that she went full tilt the next year after this picture was released into one of cinema's most confusing epics, 1975's "Zardoz," just for the challenge. Well, at least she got a good tan on location in this movie, and photographs here better than in any other film she has starred in. Alas, poor Charlotte appears to be so much smarter than the material she is given in this hamhanded cat-and-mouse yarn, shot entirely in the quaint environs of Provence, France. She smiles alot, and behind that grin she seems to be saying "Please call it a wrap so I can drive over to Marseilles for a wild night on the town."

    Dullness doesn't translate to ineptitude however. The production values for this co-British/French effort are as high as those found on the other Alistair MacLean knock-offs of the '70s, like "Puppet on a Chain," "When Eight Bells Toll," and "Fear Is The Key." Like Barry Newman in "Fear Is The Key," actor David Birney gets to show his limited emotional range as the stalwart MacLean hero thrown into the middle of a deadly game of international policies and kidnapping. As a wandering American playboy, disenchanted with the Vietnam War and America, he stumbles into the schemes of the Duc, played with continental charm by the wonderfully droll Michael Lonsdale. Birney is coerced into protecting a Hungarian scientist who holds the secret formula to converting solar energy into economical power in his head. Shadowy hitmen, presumably hired by someone who wants that formula, follow their every move. Birney is occasionally forced to wipe his lackluster smirk from his face and perform some chop-socky moves on the villains.

    Unlike the wartime MacLean novels like "Ice Station Zebra," "The Guns of Navarone," and "Where Eagles Dare," "Caravan To Vaccares" falls into the same trap as the majority of Alastair's later books displayed, that of simple chases, one curveball "twist," and a strong-chin, 2-dimensional hero always able to easily thwart the antagonists. The interesting tidbits to this picture come with the villains. Uncharacteristically (at least these days), this film's villains speak French, and yet their dialogue is not subtitled into English. Of course, you have no idea what they're saying if you don't parlez-vous, but in an interesting directorial choice, that's okay. Their actions and intensity translate their motives, and it's that decision to allow their every words to go unsubtitled that I applaud this element of the production. The producers knew their audience was intelligent enough to figure out what would be occurring on screen without spooning out translated dialogue. Thank you!

    As for the principals, well, as mentioned, David Birney isn't the most convincing of badasses around. He exuded more testosterone when he got into a tiff with Meredith Baxter on "Bridget Loves Bernie." Charlotte Rampling is given very little to do but play the sexy, compliant companion who lets Birney make all the decisions. Her looks, however, betray this simplitude. She has the presence to suggest she could easily outmaneuver Birney on a speed-chess match. Which leaves us with Michael Lonsdale. Here, he exudes more confidence than his put-upon inspector in "The Day of the Jackal." He has a comfortable, wise delivery, a sly way of sizing up his minions and adversaries, that is a pleasure to watch. It is a shame Bond producers did not use him to the fullest extent when they cast him as super villain Hugo Drax in "Moonraker."

    The plot neatly ties up most of its loose ends by the last reel, and you're rendered the satisfaction that David Birney didn't go on to reprise his role in any sequels. However, any movie that climaxes with him being attacked by rodeo clowns isn't all that bad. My rating: ** out of ****.
    helpful•11
    4
    • Guy Grand
    • Feb 13, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1976 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Alistair Maclean's Caravan to Vaccarès
    • Filming locations
      • Arènes d'Arles - 1 Rond-Point des Arènes, Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
    • Production companies
      • Crowndale Holdings Ltd.
      • Geoffrey Reeve Productions
      • S.N. Prodis
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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