ffolkes (1980)

When terrorists take over two oil rigs, and threaten to blow them up if their demands are not met, an eccentric anti-terrorism expert volunteers his unique commando unit to stop them.

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Jack Davies, Jack Davies (from his own novel: "Esther Ruth & Jennifer")

Stars:

Roger Moore, James Mason, Anthony Perkins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Moore	...	Ffolkes
James Mason	...	Admiral Brinsden
Anthony Perkins	...	Kramer
Michael Parks	...	Shulman
David Hedison	...	King
Jack Watson	...	Olafsen
George Baker	...	Fletcher
Jeremy Clyde	...	Tipping
David Wood	...	Herring
Faith Brook	...	Prime Minister
Lea Brodie	...	Sanna
Anthony Pullen Shaw	...	Ackerman
Philip O'Brien	...	Webb
John Westbrook	...	Dawnay
Jennifer Hilary	...	Sarah

Storyline

A terrorist (Anthony Perkins) holds an offshore drilling rig and production platform for ransom in the North Sea. Ffolkes (Roger Moore) a wealthy mysogynistic eccentric, volunteers to send his crack team of soldiers in to stop the terrorists. With few other options available, the British Government reluctantly accepts his help.

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Plot Keywords:

1980s | ship | terrorist | oil | oil rig | 

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Taglines:

Terrorists of the High Seas . . . With a push of a button they threaten to blow up the biggest oil rig in the world. Only one man can stop them. [USA DVD]

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Assault Force

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$805,511, 20 April 1980

Gross USA:

$2,993,772

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,993,772

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Seven Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Andrew V. McLaglen and Sir Roger Moore worked together on The Wild Geese (1978).

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Goofs

Ffolkes appears as a real perfectionist, but after overwhelming Kramer he doesn't make sure that he is really dead and can't push the button any more.

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Quotes

Captain Phillips: I was telling the Admiral your men are so well drilled they'll be able to find their way around Esther with their eyes shut.
ffolkes: If any one of my men moves round anything with his eyes shut I shall personally gouge them out! It's time for a drink.
Admiral Brindsen: Bit early isn't it?
ffolkes: It's four hours since breakfast. That's late!

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema version had the sight of one of the hijackers unbuttoning the blouse of a female captive removed for an 'A' rating (the same as today's 'PG' rating). All subsequent video and DVD releases have been uncut and rated '15'.

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Connections

Referenced in Biography: Roger Moore: A Matter of Class (1995)

User Reviews

A group of terrorists hijacks oil platforms in exchange for a millionaire ransom and British government has 24 hours to produce the money.

When terrorists commanded by Kramer (Anthony Perkins) and Harold (Michael Parks) take over two oil rigs and threaten to explode them if their demands are not met, an unique commando unit led by Ffolkes (Roger Moore sporting a beard and whose character has been criticized for being sexist as well as James Bond) is sent in to stop them . The next 12 hours could cost you 1,000 million pounds and 600 lives you need a man who lives second by second . Ffolks is a misogynistic man who dislike of women due to a failed marriage and having several sisters as opposed to being a ladies man; being moody, cranky and cantankerous .

Thrilling film about a North Sea hijack full of suspense , tension , excitement and some humor in charge of Roger Moore . This picture and its source Jack Davies 'Esther, Ruth and Jennifer' novel were both first released in the same 1979 year ; the meaning and relevance of this movie's source novel is that the three names refer to the three sea-based entities that are threatened to be blown-up in the story in both the book and the film. Roger Moore's likable performance playing a misogynistic character including pet obsession with his pussy cats and having an effeminate needlework hobby. The definition and relevance of this movie's ffolkes title is that it refers to the surname of the central character played by Roger Moore , the full name is actually Rufus Excalibur Ffolkes, and has been interpreted as being sexist. Though the character is supposed to be very much a polar opposite to his James Bond character, paradoxically, the character was arguably just as sexist, just in a different way. Very good support cast as James Mason as Admiral Sir Francis Brindsen as Michael Parks as Harold Shulman , David Hedison as King , Jack Watson as Capt. Olafsen ,George Baker as Fletcher ,Jeremy Clyde as Tipping . Rousing and moving musical score by Michael J. Lewis . Colorful cinematography by Tony Imi , filmed on location , the Norwegian dockyard port scenes were actually filmed not in Norway but in Ireland in the harbor town of Galway , the Galway Docks were made-up to look Norwegiana and the Scotish castle seen in the movie was portrayed by Dunguaire Castle which is near the village of Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland .

This movie marked the second teaming of director Andrew V. McLaglen with star Roger Moore who had worked together on ¨The Wild Geese¨ , they would work together again on ¨The Sea Wolves¨, their third and final movie together. Of these three films, Ffolkes is the only one which was not a war movie. The motion picture being well realized by Andrew V McLagen, son of great actor Victor McLagen . He's a a known Ford's disciple . Andrew holds the distinction of directing the most episodes of "Gunsmoke" . Furthermore , he holds the honor of filmmaking the most episodes of ¨Have gun , Will travel" (1957). And is one of the few directors to have directed both Clint Eastwood and John Wayne . He's a Western expert (McLintock, Shenandoah, Bandolero, Chisum, Cahill, Way west) and warlike specialist , such as proved in several films ( Return to Kwai, Wild Geese , Dirtdozen: the next mission, Sea wolves, Breakthrough ) . Rating : Nice , acceptable and passable , 6 . The picture will appeal to Roger Moore fans , an old master in the art of conjuring sympathy out of nothing . Worthwhile watching