The synthetic fuel production formula, invented by the Nazis at the end of World War II, is sought after by some who aim to sell it, and by others who wish to destroy it.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| George C. Scott | ... |
Barney Caine
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| Marlon Brando | ... |
Adam Steiffel
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| Marthe Keller | ... |
Lisa
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| John Gielgud | ... |
Dr. Esau
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| G.D. Spradlin | ... |
Clements
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| Beatrice Straight | ... |
Kay Neeley
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| Richard Lynch | ... |
Kladen / Tedesco
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| John van Dreelen | ... |
Hans Lehman
(as John Van Dreelen)
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Robin Clarke | ... |
Major Neeley
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| Ike Eisenmann | ... |
Tony
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| Marshall Thompson | ... |
Geologist #1
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| Dieter Schidor | ... |
Assassin
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Werner Kreindl | ... |
Schellenberg
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| Jan Niklas | ... |
Gestapo Captain
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| Wolfgang Preiss | ... |
Franz Tauber
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Calvin Jung | ... |
Sgt. Yosuta
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| Alan North | ... |
Nolan
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| David Byrd | ... |
Obermann
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| Ferdy Mayne | ... |
Siebold
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Gerard Murphy | ... |
Chauffeur
(as Gerry Murphy)
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Francisco Prado | ... |
Mendosa
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Louis Basile | ... |
Vince Rizzo
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Ric Mancini | ... |
Printman
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Weston Gavin | ... |
U.S. Army Captain
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| Craig T. Nelson | ... |
Geologist #2
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| Herb Voland | ... |
Geologist #3
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Diane Tyler | ... |
Telex Operator
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Jim Brewer | ... |
Security Guard
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| Lavelle Roby | ... |
Secretary
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| Albert Carrier | ... |
Butler
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Ernie Fuentes | ... |
Pool Man
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| Stephanie Edwards | ... |
Reporter
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Nathan Roberts | ... |
Reporter
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Tom Hall | ... |
Reporter
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Reinhard vom Bauer | ... |
Dr. Esau (Young)
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| János Gönczöl | ... |
Karl Saur
(as Janos Gönczöl)
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Heinz Kammer | ... |
Hans Luschen
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| Reinhard Kolldehoff | ... |
Reimeck
(as René Kolldehoff)
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Martin Brandt | ... |
Concierge (German)
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Paul Glawion | ... |
Concierge (Swiss)
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Emil Steinberger | ... |
Postal Clerk
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Emily Jensen | ... |
Dancer
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Sandie Lawrence | ... |
Dancer
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Ursula Warel | ... |
Dancer
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Jane Faithe | ... |
Dancer
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| Wendy Baldock | ... |
Dancer
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Ursula Hamann | ... |
Pan-Am Lady
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Bill Baker | ... |
Blonde Guy Standing Outside Movie Theater (uncredited)
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| Carl Irwin | ... |
Chauffeur (uncredited)
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| Kavi Raz | ... |
Arab Assassin (uncredited)
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Hammam Shafie | ... |
Assassin (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John G. Avildsen | ||
Written by
| Steve Shagan | ... | (novel) |
| Steve Shagan | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Dan Malmuth | ... | associate producer |
| Steve Shagan | ... | producer |
| Ken Swor | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Bill Conti | ||
Cinematography by
| James Crabe | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| John Carter | ||
Editorial Department
| David Bretherton | ... | supervising editor |
| Don Dittmar | ... | color timer |
| Jane Kurson | ... | associate editor |
| Richard Lane | ... | assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Dick Lane) |
| Bob Ramae | ... | assistant editor: Los Angeles |
| Joe Zaidman | ... | assistant editor: New York |
Casting By
| Caro Jones | ||
Production Design by
| Herman A. Blumenthal | ... | production designer: US |
Set Decoration by
| Lee Poll | ||
Costume Design by
| Bill Thomas | ||
Makeup Department
| Del Acevedo | ... | makeup artist |
| Evelyn Döhring | ... | hair stylist: Marthe Keller: Europe / makeup artist: Marthe Keller: Europe |
| Jo McCarthy | ... | hair stylist |
| Hasso von Hugo | ... | makeup artist: Europe |
Production Management
| Patrick Gordon | ... | unit manager: additional photography |
| Dieter Meyer | ... | production manager: Europe |
| Karl W. Schaper | ... | production manager: Europe |
| Ken Swor | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Candace Allen | ... | second assistant director |
| Don French | ... | first assistant director: Europe |
| Dan Malmuth | ... | assistant director |
| Eva-Maria Schönecker | ... | second assistant director: Europe (as Eva Marie Schönecker) |
| Dwight Williams | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Herman A. Blumenthal | ... | production designer: USA |
| Russell Goble | ... | property master |
| Hans Jürgen Kiebach | ... | art director: Europe (as Hans-Jürgen Kiebach) |
| Tom Jung | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Charles Grenzbach | ... | re-recording mixer (as Bud Grenzbach) |
| Jay M. Harding | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Michael J. Kohut | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Al Overton | ... | sound |
| John Riordan | ... | sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Richard Richtsfeld | ... | special effects department: Europe |
Visual Effects by
| Theo Nischwitz | ... | optical effects consultant: Europe |
Stunts
| Charlie Picerni | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Mike Benson | ... | camera operator (as Michael A. Benson) |
| David E. Diano | ... | first assistant camera: "a" camera (as David Diano) |
| Ted Harrison | ... | key grip |
| Donald L. Hartley | ... | dolly grip |
| Ross A. Maehl | ... | gaffer (as Ross Maehl) |
| Elliott Marks | ... | still photographer: USA |
| Robert Whitaker | ... | still photographer: Europe (as Bob Whitaker) |
| George Whitear | ... | still photographer: Europe |
| Garrett Brown | ... | steadicam operator (uncredited) |
| Adam Glick | ... | set lighting technician (uncredited) |
| Randy Nolen | ... | steadicam operator (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Renate Arbes | ... | casting: Europe |
| Shirley Rich | ... | casting consultant |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Frédéric Castet | ... | designer: Christian Dior furs (as Frederic Castet) |
| Uta Freiwald | ... | costume assistant: Europe |
| Catherine Leterrier | ... | wardrobe coordinator: Miss Keller / wardrobe designer: Miss Keller |
| Helmut Preuss | ... | wardrobe: Europe |
| G. Tony Scarano | ... | wardrobe (as Tony Scarano) |
Location Management
| Norbert Finck | ... | location manager: Berlin |
| Stefan Zürcher | ... | location manager: Switzerland |
Music Department
| Harry V. Lojewski | ... | music supervisor |
| Sergio Marcotulli | ... | sound engineer |
| Marco Streccioni | ... | assistant sound engineer |
| Joe Tuley | ... | music editor |
| Dan Wallin | ... | score mixer |
| Bill Conti | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Peter T. Myers | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Ana Maria Quintana | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Randy Peters | ... | transportation co-captain |
Additional Crew
| Willy Egger | ... | production executive: Germany |
| Sandy Lawrence | ... | production secretary: USA |
| William Milié | ... | choreographer: Europe (as Bill Millie) |
| Don Morgan | ... | unit publicist |
| Ursula Schlieper | ... | production accountant: Europe (as Uschi Schlieper) |
| Ilse Schwarzwald | ... | production assistant: Europe |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
- CIP Filmproduktion GmbH (copyright holder)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1980) (United States) (theatrical) (released thru)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1980) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Norway) (theatrical)
- MGM/CBS Home Video (1981) (United States) (VHS)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (France) (theatrical)
- Sonoro Filme (1981) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (West Germany) (VHS)
- Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (sound re-recording)
- Nina Ricci (evening dresses)
- Metrocolor (color)
- Panavision (camera equipment: Panaflex® camera and lenses)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (titles and opticals)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A detective uncovers a formula that was devised by the Germans in World War II to make fuel from synthetic products, thereby eliminating the necessity for oil, and oil companies. A major oil company finds out about it and tries to destroy the formula, and anyone who knows about it. |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Big Oil. Big Money. Big Mystery. Everyone's out to make a killing. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $13,200,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Marlon Brando told Lawrence Grobel ("Conversations with Brando") that this movie, which he only made for the money, as he was broke, was ruined in the editing room, with the humor of his scenes cut out. See more » |
| Goofs | The basic premise of the movie (that oil companies are hiding a "secret" formula for converting coal into gasoline) is false, as the formula is well known and has been known for a very long time. It's readily accessible. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Any Which Way You Can/The Formula/Raging Bull/Nine to Five (1980). See more » |
| Quotes |
Barney Caine:
Let me tell you something. If I didn't have a son that still loved me, I'd blow your fuckin' brains out all over that wall back there... right here, right now. But I'm not in the murder business... and you're not worth one more minute of my time. See more » |