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.