When one card falls, all cards fall, and that's the goal of rising government official James Coburn in this sly political drama. He is determined to wipe out for government assassins who know too much about him, and that means having them kill each other so he is not directly linked. It's scary and sly and ingenious, and it's James Coburn at his absolute best. It's also time sensitive which is why he has to set it up so his lover Lee Grant doesn't figure things out, although as she begins to get suspicious, she comments "A little fascism can go a long way."
One of the writers of the script was future hot shot director Barry Levinson, and it's one of the best director all efforts of Ken Hughes. When the murders are indeed committed, they are brutal and painful and terrifying, with one in particular (death by the presence of a piercing painful sound) quite scary.
I wasn't really crazy about the ending which seems like some key element was deleted, but with terrific performances by Keenan Wynn, Harry Andrews, Michael Jayston and Ian Hendry, the viewer's attention is sure to be held. There is also some great location footage of London in the early 1970s, and for a good majority of the film, everything seems to be running smoothly. Perhaps the issue was in the editing room, but unfortunately, that affects the final product which ultimately affects the final rating.
One of the writers of the script was future hot shot director Barry Levinson, and it's one of the best director all efforts of Ken Hughes. When the murders are indeed committed, they are brutal and painful and terrifying, with one in particular (death by the presence of a piercing painful sound) quite scary.
I wasn't really crazy about the ending which seems like some key element was deleted, but with terrific performances by Keenan Wynn, Harry Andrews, Michael Jayston and Ian Hendry, the viewer's attention is sure to be held. There is also some great location footage of London in the early 1970s, and for a good majority of the film, everything seems to be running smoothly. Perhaps the issue was in the editing room, but unfortunately, that affects the final product which ultimately affects the final rating.