Talking to family friend Guy Morgan (who tragically passed away on March 11th 2019 of a brain hemorrhage, at just age 46) about what films he looking for,I got told about an Oliver Reed Crime film which he had heard about on Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright's commentary for Wright's Hot Fuzz (also reviewed).
Looking round for the movie,I was pleased to discover that it had come out on Pre-Cert Video,but was disappointed to discover that editions of the Video were going for silly money on Ebay.
After finding myself getting priced out on a number of attempts on Ebay,I all but gave up on tracking the title down. Getting happily caught by surprise,a DVD seller revealed that they had tracked down the title,which led to me getting ready to finally take part in some target practice.
View on the film:
Stomping on the knackered streets of 70s Britain,director Douglas Hickox & cinematographer Edward Scaife spread mud and dirt over the film,with the damp flats and crumbling houses smashes Harry's (few hopes) to the ground.
Growing flowers out of the dirt,Hickox aims for Harry's target with a tantalizing range,by stylishly grinding into Harry's mind with fractured overlapping images from editor John Glen.
Backed by an industrial hum from Stanley Myers,Hickox glides across the prison cells with an urgent atmosphere,as Harry and Williams take advantage of the moment.
Along with the hard,broken nose street crime action,Hickox reflects on the fury in Harry with a superb circling of mirrors,which crack open Harry not seeing the double dealing being reflected right in front of him.
Taking Laurence Henderson's novel out of the cells,the screenplay by former star cyclist (and Tour De France participant) Alexander Jacobs keeps the film in its pulp chain gang,with Henderson making Harry's brittle dialogue blunt,and to the point.
Pushing Harry's back against the wall like a Film Noir loner. Henderson impressively keeps away from giving anyone a clean cut image,by making everyone from Harry to his two timing wife Pat be brutes who are only after winning their own round.
For the cast,Hicox hits on a prison riot of amazing names,from future TV stars Mike Pratt and June Brown getting the punch on early roles,to Edward Woodward, Robert Beatty and Frank Finlay being rotten to the core.
Joined by a wonderfully swift,fresh-faced Ian McShane as Williams,Oliver Reed gives a terrific performance as Harry,thanks to Reed attacking the short and sweet dialogue with a bubbling rage which explodes as Harry begins to suspect that he is the sitting target.
Looking round for the movie,I was pleased to discover that it had come out on Pre-Cert Video,but was disappointed to discover that editions of the Video were going for silly money on Ebay.
After finding myself getting priced out on a number of attempts on Ebay,I all but gave up on tracking the title down. Getting happily caught by surprise,a DVD seller revealed that they had tracked down the title,which led to me getting ready to finally take part in some target practice.
View on the film:
Stomping on the knackered streets of 70s Britain,director Douglas Hickox & cinematographer Edward Scaife spread mud and dirt over the film,with the damp flats and crumbling houses smashes Harry's (few hopes) to the ground.
Growing flowers out of the dirt,Hickox aims for Harry's target with a tantalizing range,by stylishly grinding into Harry's mind with fractured overlapping images from editor John Glen.
Backed by an industrial hum from Stanley Myers,Hickox glides across the prison cells with an urgent atmosphere,as Harry and Williams take advantage of the moment.
Along with the hard,broken nose street crime action,Hickox reflects on the fury in Harry with a superb circling of mirrors,which crack open Harry not seeing the double dealing being reflected right in front of him.
Taking Laurence Henderson's novel out of the cells,the screenplay by former star cyclist (and Tour De France participant) Alexander Jacobs keeps the film in its pulp chain gang,with Henderson making Harry's brittle dialogue blunt,and to the point.
Pushing Harry's back against the wall like a Film Noir loner. Henderson impressively keeps away from giving anyone a clean cut image,by making everyone from Harry to his two timing wife Pat be brutes who are only after winning their own round.
For the cast,Hicox hits on a prison riot of amazing names,from future TV stars Mike Pratt and June Brown getting the punch on early roles,to Edward Woodward, Robert Beatty and Frank Finlay being rotten to the core.
Joined by a wonderfully swift,fresh-faced Ian McShane as Williams,Oliver Reed gives a terrific performance as Harry,thanks to Reed attacking the short and sweet dialogue with a bubbling rage which explodes as Harry begins to suspect that he is the sitting target.