Firepower is one of those films I saw once way, waaaaay back when it was released, perhaps in 1979 or 80 and never again. Yet certain parts of it stuck with me and, when I learned it was going to be released to BluRay, I pre-ordered it. On Tuesday it arrived and yesterday, for the first time in some (gulp) 35 years, I once again saw it.
How did I feel about revisiting it? Read on, read on…
Let me start by saying I can’t really explain why the film stuck with me during all this time. I couldn’t recall the movie’s plot but certain things remained: James Coburn’s cool machismo. Sophia Loren’s absolute, undeniable beauty. And yes, O. J. Simpson’s fate.
These three are the principles in the film, which to its credit begins with a couple of really BIG bangs (pardon the pun). Which is good because after that explosive (jeeze) start, things settle down a little and the plot unfolds for a bit before we’re hit with the next wave of action.
The plot? It goes like this: Sophia Loren is Adele Tasca and, in the movie’s opening minutes, she becomes a widow. Afterwards Adele is eager to get revenge on the man she feels is behind the killing: Reclusive and, except for one very old photograph, unseen billionaire Karl Stenger (he’s basically a Howard Hughes type). The U.S. Government, like Adele, are eager to get their hands on Stenger but, unfortunately, he is hiding out somewhere in the Caribbean and beyond U.S. extradition.
Adele suggests to the Feds they hire mercenary -and former flame- Jerry Fanon (James Coburn) to take up the job of bringing Stenger back to face justice. They eventually do just that and Fanon, accompanied by right hand man Catlett (O. J. Simpson), and Adele all find themselves on Antigua and in pursuit of their prey.
I don’t want to get into too many spoilers beyond this point, but suffice it to say the film winds up being filled with double crosses, violence, and action.
As I said, I didn’t remember much of the film, but as it played out, I couldn’t help but think that the film plays out like a more violence filled episode of the original Mission: Impossible. In fact, it plays out that way so much that it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the original script was intended for that TV show and was expanded for this feature.
The cast alone makes the case for me: Coburn is essentially Jim Phelps, Sophia Loren is the female star (Cinnamon or Lisa or Dana), and O.J. Simpson is a combination of Barney and Willy, simultaneously brains and muscle. There is no use of disguise, but there is a…well, as I said before, I won’t get into spoilers!
The film moves reasonably well though, as with other older films, modern audiences may find the pace a little too slow. In re-watching the film, I also came to the conclusion that Sophia Loren, rightfully considered a screen legend, was nonetheless miscast in the principle role. Her character needed to be more of a femme fatale, but Ms. Loren was a little too aloof for this role. I got the feeling she was simply reading her lines and moving along. This particularly hurt toward the end of the film, which features considerable revelation and double crossing.
In conclusion, revisiting Firepower proved an interesting experience. I don’t believe it is a particularly “great” film, but it is an entertaining bit of action that features a meaty and, to be fair, at times preposterous, plot. Nonetheless, it is entertaining enough to spend some time with.
TRIVIA: When the film was in the works, the producers originally wanted Clint Eastwood for the Fanon role but he ultimately declined. Charles Bronson was also considered for the role (he and director Michael Winner had worked together on many features) but supposedly dropped out because he wanted his then wife Jill Ireland in the movie but she couldn’t be accommodated into it.
Mr. Torre,
Hello. I stumbled upon your review this morning while surfing for information on the old “classic” (not quite!), but my interest was also personal. You see, I was a Peace Corp Volunteer stationed on Antiqua at the time the movie was actually being shot there.
While I could go on for a very long time about the particulars, I was directly involved in helping the special effects team do some of their behind-scene stuff as one segment of the “chase” scenes were literally shot at a fancy house on the south end of the island owned by a dis-barred New York lawyer – access to which was directly through an experimental agricultural plot that I was supervising for the Antiquan government.
Like I said, I could go on . . . nonetheless, the two weeks or so that they were filming at that exact location gave me ample opportunity to meet James Coburn, OJ Simpson, and to at least say “hello” to Sophia Loren, a rare moment that I have cherished for many years!
All that said, I certainly won’t argue with your overall assessment of the film. It was mediocre at best while benefiting greatly from some fantastic scenery, several impressive explosions, and Miss Loren’s striking beauty, to which I can personally vouch for!
Thanks so much for taking me back to such a wonderful time in my life. I certainly enjoyed reading your review.
Sincerely,
Doug Bennett
Thanks for the information! While it makes sense that your first hand experience on the making of the film would stick with you (especially the opportunity to be around the lovely Ms. Loren!), as I mentioned in my review I don’t know why this film had remained with me all this time, given the little I recalled of it having only seen it one time way back when it was released. While it may not ever reach the upper echelon of action/intrigue features, it was interesting and had enough action/explosions/carnage and a twisty enough plot ot entertain me. It certainly played out like a typical Michael Winner directed film (My favorite of his films is The Mechanic, which was the basis for the title of the first novel in my Corrosive Knights series, and which was remade quite badly with Jason Statham in the Charles Bronson role).
Firepower certainly benefited from its star power, scenery, and explosions, though I stick with my feeling that the lovely and talented Ms. Loren may have been miscast in the film, given her ultimate character arc.
Still, loved hearing from you! I envy the fact that you had a first hand view of the making of this film! The closest (so far!) I’ve come to first hand witnessing of filming was a scene from an episode of Miami Vice many a year ago!
Mr. Torre – nice to hear back from you. Yes, it was a singular experience to be sure. Here I was, a lowly Peace Corps volunteer working in the field (literally) one day, when one of the workers came up to me and said, “Mr. Doug, there’s two fellows here that want to see you”. Turns out it was Ken Pepiot and Terry Leonard, both working with Paul Stewart at the time. They’d been in town trying to secure access to a road (actually the driveway to Howard Levine’s house – the former lawyer from New York) that ran smack-dab through the project I was supervising. Turns out the folks at the Ministry of Agriculture told them they’d have to get MY approval to use the road as it was under my supervision. Who’d ‘a thought??!!
Ken, Terry and I became good buddies as I showed them around the “non-touristy” areas of St. Johns, the capital of Antigua. My favorite rum shop was a place on the north end of town called “Sids”, where the locals came to play dominoes, checkers and shoot pool while enjoying one another’s company and a “nip” of rum. Ken and Terry fit right in! in fact, after they’d been there with me a couple of times, I remember coming in on my own and finding them already there! They were just a couple of regular guys – I sure did enjoy their company.
You may be aware that Terry Leonard (the stunt-guy end of the special effects team) did an impressive stunt for Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Arc. It was the one where Harrison Ford’s character was in a fight with a Nazi as they drove down a sandy/dirt road as part of some convoy (while carrying the Arc??). Ford somehow ended up going over the hood of a truck and under it – while it was racing along – and ended up lashing his bull whip to the front bumper as he slid along the road underneath the truck as it was running down the road, hand-over-hand, until he emerges again at the back of the truck where he then climbs back into the truck, runs forward, cold-cocks the driver, drags him out the door and regains control of the truck. That stunt was done the Terry. Great stuff!
Like I said before, there are quite a few stories that came out of that fairly intense two weeks. It ended when Ken, Terry and Paul Stewart met me at Sid’s one night, only to offer me a job! They asked me if I wanted to continue on with them to St. Lucia where the next segment was to be shot. As much as I wanted to go with them, it would have been the end of my Peace Corp stint, which I was very much obligated to do. Still, I often wonder, what if . . . . ?
Best to you, and thanks again.
Doug
Wow! Didn’t know the stuntman for that particular Raiders stunt (one of the better ones in a film filled with them!) was also involved in Firepower! Thanks for the information…I’m always fascinated with behind the story tales from films, even ones that may not be as memorable to the general public. As I said, I have a certain (nostalgic?) fondness for Firepower even though I can see the film was only so-so in the end. Great stuff!