Touch and Die (1992)

Frank Magenta works as a journalist in Rome for a big American newspaper. Assigned to gather information on the background of Scanzano, the presidential candidate of Italian origin, he ... See full summary »

Director:

Piernico Solinas

Writers:

John Howlett, Piernico Solinas

Stars:

Martin Sheen, Véronique Jannot, David Birney

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Sheen	...	Frank
Véronique Jannot	...	Catherine
David Birney	...	Scanzano
Renée Estevez	...	Emma
Luca Venantini	...	Carlo
Paolo Bonacelli	...	Morelli
Jacques Perrin	...	Steuben
Horst Buchholz	...	Limey
Franco Nero	...	Aquani
Rebecca Pauly	...	Susan
Kent Broadhurst	...	Davis
Gérard Touratier	...	Jacques
Riccardo Parisio Perrotti	...	Under-Secretary
Bradley Cole	...	Harrison
Christoph Moosbrugger	...	Alec

Storyline

Frank Magenta works as a journalist in Rome for a big American newspaper. Assigned to gather information on the background of Scanzano, the presidential candidate of Italian origin, he quickly finds out that this politician is a man of unquestion-able integrity. There are no scandals or affairs which can endanger his candidacy. Frank decides to give up his investi-gations, much to the delight of his 18-year-old daughter; Emma believes that her father will have more time for her. Together with the young journalist Carlo, Frank accidentally comes across two puzzling murders. He discovers that both victims had worked as scientists in nuclear power plants from which considerable amounts of highly dangerous enriched plutonium have disappeared. When a third body is found in Rome, however, Frank decides to get to the bottom of things. He therefore pays a visit to one of the dead black sailor's colleagues, who is in hospital in the intensive care unit. But Frank is obviously not the only one ...

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Plot Keywords:

plutonium | africa | journalist | nuclear | scientist | 

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Genres:

Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence.

Did You Know?

Trivia

Adrian Lester is highly embarrassed by his association with this project.

User Reviews

Touch of Death

***SPOILERS*** Long originally 180 minutes long and boring political drama involving the smuggling of weapons grade petroleum to foreign governments mostly in Latin America. That's being done through the Rome office of the presidential campaign manager of Italian/American John Scanzano who's a shoo-in to win he 1992 US Presidential Elections. It's Scanzaon's good friend US foreign reporter for the Western Morning News Frank Magenta who uncovers this use of his campaign to smuggle the plutonium in return for as much as a 100 million dollars in campaign contribution! That soon sets off red flags all over the both the European and African, where the petroleum originates from, continents!

Magenta with the help of nuclear physicist Catherine Lungwua of the EAC, European Atomic Commission, soon helps uncovers this devious plan using the South African freighter the "Black Mumba" to smuggle the petroleum into Italy and then ship it the the countries,in South America, who's governments bought it in the black market. The only drawback in all this is that a number of those working in this smuggling operation have to be killed with their arms, that were contaminated with radiation, chopped off in order not to draw attention to what going on!

the movie get a bit confusing with Magenta getting involved with a combination US Presidential Campaign and plutonium smuggling ring and almost ending up dying from radiation poisoning in the process. Martin Sheen as reporter Frank Magenta is at age 50 in excellent physical shape in what looks like him doing his own stunts which is a lot better then what the dialog what the movies screenplay gives him to work with .

****SPOILERS**** Despite his small roll in the film David Birney as US Presidential Candidate Frank Scanzano steals the show as a politician who when it's discovered what those under him have been doing to get him elected does the right thing, something almost unknown in American as well as European politics, in going before the public and telling the truth in how manipulated he was by those who he trusted and letting all the chips fall where they may. Even though "Death Touch" is only a movie and not too believable at that Scaznzano's honest actions could very well teach those politicians both running and trying to stay in elected office a thing or two in how to behave and not panic by doing the wrong thing when the walls start to cave in on them which like in John Scanzano's case was not of their or his own doing.

Details

Country:

Italy USA France Germany UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 1992 (France)

Also Known As:

As Mãos da Morte

Filming Locations:

Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITC, Rai 2, Société Française de Production (SFP)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1