Firepower (1979)

A merc is hired by the F.B.I. to track down a powerful recluse criminal. A woman is also trying to track him down for her own personal vendetta.

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

Gerald Wilson (screenplay), Bill Kerby (story)

Stars:

Sophia Loren, James Coburn, O.J. Simpson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophia Loren	...	Adele Tasca
James Coburn	...	Jerry Fanon / Eddie
O.J. Simpson	...	Catlett
Eli Wallach	...	Sal Hyman
Anthony Franciosa	...	Dr. Charles Félix
George Grizzard	...	Leo Gelhorn
Vincent Gardenia	...	Frank Hull
Fred Stuthman	...	Paul Halpin
Richard Caldicot	...	Harry Calman
Frank Singuineau	...	Manley Reckford
George Touliatos	...	Karl Stegner
Hank Garrett	...	Oscar Bailey
Conrad Roberts	...	Lestor Wallace
Billy Barty	...	Dominic Carbone
Jake LaMotta	...	Nickel Sam

Storyline

A merc is hired by the F.B.I. to track down a powerful recluse criminal. A woman is also trying to track him down for her own personal vendetta.

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Plot Keywords:

time bomb | street shooting | fuse | safe cracking | grieving widow | 

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Taglines:

. . . when crime and passion mix!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Bronson was considered for the role of Jerry Fanon. Rumors had it that Bronson turned this movie down because the producers had refused to write in a role for his wife, Jill Ireland. With much of the pre-production crew already on-location in the Caribbean, Sir Lew Grade wanted to shut down the production when Bronson pulled out. Realizing how much money he had already sunk into a movie that had not properly secured its star actors and actresses, Grade saved face by moving ahead using James Coburn as a replacement for Bronson.

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Alternate Versions

The film was originally released theatrically in the UK with an uncut 'AA' (15) certificate and later reissued as an 'A' (PG) with cuts to some of the bloodier shootings, shots of men on fire, a wire strangling and a brief shot of a topless woman. The 1986 video was upgraded to a 15 certificate and restored the later cinema edits though 15 secs were cut from a cockfighting scene.

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Connections

Referenced in The Exterminator (1980)

User Reviews

Forgettable, muddled thriller.

Forgettable time-waster, without purpose or meaning. It proves that even a few wild car chases and large-scale explosions can't sustain a desperately uninteresting and uninvolving story. The large cast is largely underused. (*1/2)

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Firepower

Filming Locations:

Key Largo, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITC Entertainment, ITC Films, Scimitar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1