Impasse (film)

Last updated
Impasse
Impasse 1969 movie poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Benedict
Written by John C. Higgins
Produced byHal Klein
Aubrey Schenck
Starring Burt Reynolds
Anne Francis
Vic Diaz
Lyle Bettger
Rodolfo Acosta
CinematographyMars B. Rasca
Edited byJohn F. Schreyer
Music by Philip Springer
Distributed by United Artists
Release date
  • May 7, 1969 (1969-05-07)
(New York City)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Impasse is a 1969 American film about a group of adventurers trying to recover gold lost in the Philippines during World War II. It stars Burt Reynolds, Anne Francis, Vic Diaz, Lyle Bettger and Rodolfo Acosta. [1]

Contents

Plot

Pat Morrison runs a shady salvage operation in Manila. His latest scheme involves finding $3 million worth of gold bars hidden by the military during World War II. To this end, he needs the help of several former soldiers who were present when the gold was hidden. The first is Jesus, a Filipino muslim and Morrison's business associate. The second is Draco, a hard-drinking, hot-tempered Apache living on an Indian reservation who answers Morrison's telegram with the promise of finding a wartime lover named Maria Bonita.

The trio then breaks the third man, the bigoted Hansen, out of a Filipino jail. Draco eventually manages to find Maria in a local bar, but discovers that she has grown older and gained weight. Meanwhile, Morrison rescues the captured Trev Jones, a veteran with a heart condition who has been abducted by Wombat. With Trev's help, Morrison and company are able to figure out the gold's exact location in the Malinta Tunnel on the island of Corregidor. Along the way, Morrison falls in love with Jones's daughter Bobby, a tennis champion. This complicates matters as Morrison is sleeping with Jesus's Japanese wife Mariko, a fact that Jesus discovers and confronts Morrison with.

Despite their differences, the four men are able to successfully locate and retrieve the gold. However, they meet resistance in the Philippine military. A gunfight ensues that leaves Hansen dead, Draco wounded and Jesus captured. After a brief chase, Morrison finds his escape route blocked and it is revealed that a jealous Mariko had tipped authorities off to their plan. The film ends at the airport with Bobby returning to the United States and a smiling Morrison being led away in handcuffs.

Cast

Production

The film was based on an original script by John C Higgins called Golden Bullet. Aubrey Schenck produced and raised finance through United Artists. It was to be the first of four pictures Schenck was to make for UA, each using Hal Klein as producer. [2]

Burt Reynolds signed to star and Ann-Margret was originally announced as his co star. [3]

Filming began 15 January 1968 in the Philippines. [4] Ann-Margret dropped out and was replaced by Diana Hyland. She dropped out and was replaced by Anne Francis. [5]

Reception

Howard Thompson of the New York Times described the film as "a good one that may get away all too soon", a reference to its limited release. While he cited a couple of glaring plot holes, he praised the exotic setting, the performances, script and direction. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burt Reynolds</span> American actor (1936–2018)

Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. was an American actor and icon of 1970s American popular culture. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series, such as Gunsmoke (1962–1965), Hawk (1966), and Dan August (1970–1971). He had leading roles in films, such as Navajo Joe (1966) and 100 Rifles (1969), and his breakthrough role was as Lewis Medlock in Deliverance (1972).

<i>Mackennas Gold</i> 1969 film by J. Lee Thompson

Mackenna's Gold is a 1969 American Western film directed by J. Lee Thompson, starring an ensemble cast featuring Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Ted Cassidy, Camilla Sparv and Julie Newmar in lead roles. It was photographed in Super Panavision 70 and Technicolor by Joseph MacDonald, with original music by Quincy Jones.

<i>100 Rifles</i> 1969 American Western film

100 Rifles is a 1969 American Western film directed by Tom Gries and starring Jim Brown, Raquel Welch and Burt Reynolds. It is based on Robert MacLeod's 1966 novel The Californio. The film was shot in Spain. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, who had previously also scored Bandolero!, another Western starring Welch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Francis</span> American actress (1930–2011)

Anne Francis was an American actress known for her ground-breaking roles in the science fiction film Forbidden Planet (1956) and the television action-drama series Honey West (1965–1966). Forbidden Planet marked a first in in-color, big-budget, science-fiction-themed motion pictures. Nine years later, Francis challenged female stereotypes in Honey West, in which she played a perky blonde private investigator who was as quick with body slams as with witty one-liners. She earned a Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award nomination for her performance.

<i>Sam Whiskey</i> 1969 film

Sam Whiskey is a 1969 American Western comedy film directed in DeLuxe Color by Arnold Laven and starring Burt Reynolds, Angie Dickinson, Clint Walker and Ossie Davis. "Way ahead of its time," said Reynolds of the film. "I was playing light comedy and nobody cared."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Marshall (director)</span> American actor, screenwriter, and film director (1891–1975)

George E. Marshall was an American actor, screenwriter, producer, film and television director, active through the first six decades of film history.

Elliott Kastner was an American film producer, whose best known credits include Where Eagles Dare (1968), The Long Goodbye (1973), The Missouri Breaks (1976), and Angel Heart (1987).

<i>Rough Cut</i> (1980 film) 1980 film by Don Siegel

Rough Cut is a 1980 American heist film written by Larry Gelbart, directed by Don Siegel, and starring Burt Reynolds, Lesley-Anne Down and David Niven. It was based on the novel Touch the Lion's Paw (1975) by Derek Lambert.

<i>White Lightning</i> (1973 film) 1973 film by Joseph Sargent

White Lightning is a 1973 American action film directed by Joseph Sargent, written by William W. Norton, and starring Burt Reynolds, Jennifer Billingsley, Ned Beatty, Bo Hopkins, R. G. Armstrong and Diane Ladd. It marked Laura Dern's film debut.

<i>The Train Robbers</i> 1973 film by Burt Kennedy

The Train Robbers is a 1973 American Western film written and directed by Burt Kennedy and starring John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor, Ben Johnson, and Ricardo Montalbán. Filming took place in Sierra de Órganos National Park in the town of Sombrerete, Mexico. Two brief scenes take place in the square that was used for the final shootout in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

<i>Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows</i> 1968 film by James Neilson

Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows is a 1968 American comedy film directed by James Neilson and starring Rosalind Russell, Stella Stevens and Binnie Barnes. Written by Blanche Hanalis, the film is based on a story by Jane Trahey about an old-line mother superior who is challenged by a progressive younger nun when they take the girls of St. Francis Academy on a bus trip across the United States.

<i>Rent-a-Cop</i> 1988 film by Jerry London

Rent-a-Cop is a 1987 American thriller comedy starring Burt Reynolds and Liza Minnelli. Reynolds plays a disgraced police officer, now working as a security guard, who falls in love with Minnelli, who plays a prostitute.

<i>Skullduggery</i> (1970 film) 1970 adventure film by Gordon Douglas

Skullduggery is a 1970 American adventure film directed by Gordon Douglas produced by Saul David and starring Burt Reynolds, Susan Clark. It is based on the French novel Les Animaux dénaturés (1952) by Jean Bruller.

<i>Made in Paris</i> 1966 film by Boris Sagal

Made in Paris is a 1966 American romantic-comedy film starring Ann-Margret, Louis Jourdan, Richard Crenna, Edie Adams, and Chad Everett. The film was written by Stanley Roberts and directed by Boris Sagal.

<i>Operation C.I.A.</i> 1965 film by Christian Nyby

Operation C.I.A. is a 1965 black-and-white spy film directed by Christian Nyby and starring Burt Reynolds and John Hoyt.

<i>The Swinger</i> 1966 American film by George Sidney

The Swinger is a 1966 American sex comedy film directed by George Sidney and starring Ann-Margret and Anthony Franciosa.

Gil Cates Jr. is an American producer and director, and former actor. His 2006 documentary film Life After Tomorrow, which he co-produced and directed with Julie Stevens, won awards for both Best Documentary and Best Director at the Phoenix Film Festival and had its premiere on Showtime. He is the executive director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

<i>Hurricane Smith</i> (1952 film) 1952 film by Jerry Hopper

Hurricane Smith is a 1952 American adventure film directed by Jerry Hopper and starring Yvonne De Carlo, John Ireland, James Craig, Forrest Tucker, Lyle Bettger and Richard Arlen.

<i>Fade In</i> (film) 1973 American film directed by Jud Taylor

Fade In is a 1973 American Western film starring Burt Reynolds, who said, "It should have been called Fade Out."

Charles Kuenstle is an American writer and actor.

References

  1. IMPASSE Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 39, Iss. 456, (Jan 1, 1972): 52.
  2. 'Quiet Couple' for Hudson Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 30 Sep 1967: 19.
  3. MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'Bullet' for Reynolds Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 9 Nov 1967: e23.
  4. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Ann-Margret in Star Role Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 1 Dec 1967: e17.
  5. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Anne Francis to Co-Star Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 10 Jan 1968: d11.
  6. Thompson, Howard. "Impasse (1969)". 9 May 1969. New York Times.